The Power of the Female Vote in a Tightly Contested Election
By: Hunter Hulbert, Corey Chwazik and Derrick Dixon
STATE COLLEGE – When the election results trickled in through the early morning hours of November 9, 2016, it became clear that Donald Trump had defeated Hillary Clinton in one the most surprising upsets in United States election history.
Many in the Trump campaign had insisted that the so-called “silent majority” should not be underestimated in this election. While that ended up being one of the key factors in this election, one demographic in particular provided an unexpected boost for Trump: and that was the white female voters.
Penn State Women for Trump Administrator, Alexandra O’Donnell, was also surprised by the female turnout for Trump but thinks that women across the country were not ready to break the “glass ceiling” for Clinton.
“I think that a lot of women paid attention to what both candidates had to say and I think a lot of women wanted to see a female in office but they did not want her,” said O’Donnell.
While Clinton won the popular vote and female vote overall, Trump got just enough to grab several key swing states, perhaps one of the most surprising states being right here in Pennsylvania.
Trump won by ten points in the white female demographic. Photo Courtesy of Bloomberg Politics
Nationwide, Clinton won by twelve points with all females but in the white female demographic, Trump won by 10 points. The number that really tells the story, though, is in the state of Pennsylvania, where Trump won the white female demographic by three points. These three crucial points ultimately helped him secure Pennsylvania, a state that no Republican has won for the past three decades.
Founder of Penn State Women for Trump and Pennsylvania native, Kylie Thomas, thinks that this is because Pennsylvania women do not see Clinton’s political experience as sufficient to be president.
“[Clinton] was in politics for thirty years but I, particularly, could not find anything she did that sticks out to me,” said Thomas. “Obama has done some great things, as have state representatives but she has not accomplished meaningful legislation to be worthy for President of the United States.”
While many women are happy that Trump will be the next president, many feel uneasy over what that means for the future of women’s empowerment and women’s rights.
Penn State Students for Hillary chanting across campus in support of the Democratic Nominee Photo Courtesy of Penn State Students for Hillary Facebook Page
Penn State Students for Hillary member, Lauren Barron, says that it will be an uphill battle to ensure that women are given the secure health options and rights that they need for years to come.
“The fight for [women’s rights] is definitely not over but it is definitely going to be harder,” said Barron. “I am genuinely scared for what is going to happen with funding for things like planned parenthood and abortion and things of that nature.”
Moving forward, many say it will be important for Trump to bridge the gender gap as well as the racial and ethnic divides across the country. Barron is hoping that this will happen so that the progress that has been made over the years can continue.
“I really hope that at least one side can come together because we need to be united,” said Barron. “After all we are a part of the United States of America.”
For more analysis on how Trump won the white female vote, as well as other key demographics in swing states, please visit: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/clinton-couldnt-win-over-white-women/