US Election: What is the gender vote gap?
Source: Best For Britain
Gender remains a significant indicator for political preference. While the 'gender vote gap' isn't new, recent polling data on the US election indicates the gap in voting preference between men and women seems to be widening. But why? And how significant is it?
Has there always been a gender vote gap?
Gender has long been a powerful indicator for voting choice. Not since Bush Snr in 1988 have more women voted for a Republican candidate than for a Democrat. In the last two elections, polling company Edison found that women were 15% more likely to vote for Joe Biden and 13% more likely to vote for Hillary Clinton than for Donald Trump. Only twice since 1988 have men turned out more for a Democrat than a Republican - Bill Clinton in 1992 and Barack Obama in 2008. Men were 8% and 11% more likely to vote for Trump in 2020 and 2016 respectively. Unsurprisingly, considering electoral history, a recent study found that men are 18% more likely to vote for Trump, whilst women are 7% more likely to support Kamala Harris.
This 25% cumulative gender gap is the largest since 1984 and worryingly seems to show a growing disconnect. Over the past 25 years the partisan gap between young men and women has risen dramatically - Gen Z women are the most progressive group in American history, but Gen Z men are increasingly conservative. Polling of swing states by the New York Times found that whilst young men preferred Trump by 13 points, young women favoured Harris by 38 points - a staggering 51% gender gap amongst young Americans, by far the largest of any age group.
Read here the full article published by Best For Britain on 22 October 2024.
Image by Best For Britain
Gender remains a significant indicator for political preference. While the 'gender vote gap' isn't new, recent polling data on the US election indicates the gap in voting preference between men and women seems to be widening. But why? And how significant is it?
Has there always been a gender vote gap?
Gender has long been a powerful indicator for voting choice. Not since Bush Snr in 1988 have more women voted for a Republican candidate than for a Democrat. In the last two elections, polling company Edison found that women were 15% more likely to vote for Joe Biden and 13% more likely to vote for Hillary Clinton than for Donald Trump. Only twice since 1988 have men turned out more for a Democrat than a Republican - Bill Clinton in 1992 and Barack Obama in 2008. Men were 8% and 11% more likely to vote for Trump in 2020 and 2016 respectively. Unsurprisingly, considering electoral history, a recent study found that men are 18% more likely to vote for Trump, whilst women are 7% more likely to support Kamala Harris.
This 25% cumulative gender gap is the largest since 1984 and worryingly seems to show a growing disconnect. Over the past 25 years the partisan gap between young men and women has risen dramatically - Gen Z women are the most progressive group in American history, but Gen Z men are increasingly conservative. Polling of swing states by the New York Times found that whilst young men preferred Trump by 13 points, young women favoured Harris by 38 points - a staggering 51% gender gap amongst young Americans, by far the largest of any age group.
Read here the full article published by Best For Britain on 22 October 2024.
Image by Best For Britain