Why Trump Won
The 2016 election saw an unprecedented victory: Donald Trump, an experienced novice with no political science background, defeated Hillary Clinton.
Our Approach
We analyze this through the lens of Clinton's perspective—specifically her claims in What Happened. We test a novel hypothesis about post-election narratives.
Our findings:
- Most of Clinton's assumptions about losing are supported by evidence
- The email controversy narrative (especially Comey's intervention) lacks strong substantiation
Key Implications
This research offers insights into political campaigns and the dynamics behind electoral defeats. It highlights a gap in political science literature regarding how defeated candidates interpret their loss.
