Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
Did suburban voters in three states effectively decide the 2016 election?
Friday, August 7, 2020
By Claire Zimmerman
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YES
Donald Trump secured his 2016 victory with narrow wins in three states: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Given pronounced urban-rural splits, it appears suburban voters were the determining influence.
In each of those states, exit polls suggest, he won decisive majorities against Hillary Clinton among suburban voters. In Michigan, Trump defeated Clinton 53% to 42%. In Pennsylvania, Trump won 52% to 44%. In Wisconsin, 55% to 39%.
"The basic geographic and demographic conclusion: the balance of political power lies with suburban and exurban counties, particularly in swing states," wrote Joel Kotkin, an urban studies professor.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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