16.7.1

Coalition of Supporters

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Coalition of supporters

US political parties appeal to groups of certain types of voters. Support for the Democrats and Republicans differs based on religion, race, gender and education.

Religion

Religion

  • Religion is important for voters because it is linked to the stance voters have on some social issues.
  • Protestants mainly support Republicans because they want a president that will nominate judges which have a literal interpretation of the constitution and will make rulings in line with their social beliefs.
  • Catholics have increased their Republican support because they oppose abortion.
  • The religious right movement supports the Republicans because the party promotes family values, and opposes same-sex marriage and abortion.
Race

Race

  • The Democrats traditionally have more support from racial minority groups including Hispanics and African-Americans.
    • In 2008 support for the Democrats was particularly high with 95% of African-Americans voting for Barack Obama.
  • In 2016 Hispanics supported Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. Trump had spoken in his campaign in a negative way about Mexican immigrants.
    • Republicans have attracted Hispanic support, such as in 2000 when George W. Bush won the Hispanic vote.
Education

Education

  • Voter education influenced party support in the 2016 election.
  • Donald Trump won the support of less well-educated voters who had not studied at college.
    • Voters supported Trump’s policies of stopping illegal immigration and restoring national pride.
    • Trump was supported by 71% of white males that were not college educated, whilst 23% of them voted for Clinton.
Gender

Gender

  • Women mostly support Democrat candidates over the Republicans in presidential elections.
  • Democrat policies appeal to women more than Republican policies.
    • Democrats favour gun control, less defence spending and women having the right to an abortion.
    • Democrats are opposed to capital punishment which appeals to many women.
Gender in the 2016 election

Gender in the 2016 election

  • In the 2016 election, there was significant female support for Hillary Clinton and greater male support for Donald Trump.
    • Donald Trump’s attitude to women was a focus of the 2016 election after a video was released where he bragged about kissing and groping women.
    • 54% of women voted for Clinton, whilst 41% of women voted for Trump.
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