Trump's electoral victory undercuts idea that 'demography is destiny'
Donald Trump became the first Republican in two decades to win the popular vote in a US presidential election, relying on his core support among White working-class men. But he also gained support among parts of the electorate that have been stalwarts for the Democratic Party, including Hispanic men, the working class and women overall.
Trump's “resounding victory” shows he was able to tap into the same “unique brand of grievance politics” that brought him victory in 2016 – namely resentment by many Americans of “coastal elites in New York or Silicon Valley”, says Thomas Gift, director of the Centre on US Politics at University College London.
Gift says he is “not convinced that any other Democratic candidate would have beaten Donald Trump this year” given the wide appeal of his message to a range of voters.
Republican political adviser and frequent pundit Scott Jennings told CNN on election night that Trump's victory was the "revenge of the working class".
He told the BBC on Thursday that there had been "a movement to the right that was led by these working-class Americans" who had experienced tough times in recent years because of Covid and a sharp increase in inflation.
“In 2024, demography was not destiny, but gender may have been," says Morris.
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