Religion and Politics During the 2016 Presidential Election: A Stakeholder Analysis

Abstract

While the results of the 2016 Presidential Election in the United States were shocking to many, the most shocking and complex element of President Trump’s victory was his support from the Protestants and Evangelicals. According to a Washington Post article published on November 9th of that year, 81% of evangelicals voted for Donald Trump. This paper is a stakeholder analysis for key religious groups such as Evangelicals, Catholics, and Jews during the 2016 Election that gave rise to the Trump presidency. Ranging from concepts such as “white fear” or “strongman politics,” this paper seeks to analyze the key reasons that President Trump gained a substantial following from the religious right. The paper will also give a historiography of the religion and politics in the United States that directly led to the 2016 election conclusion. Of special consideration will be the religious conservative political “playbook” orchestrated by Jerry Falwell during the 20th century. Analysis of polling data, demographic trends, and religiosity trends will all be included.