TL/DR –
The article suggests that voter turnout and news consumption habits significantly influenced the different outcomes of the 2022 midterms and the 2024 election. Over 40 million people who didn’t vote in 2022 did vote in 2024, the majority of whom are less politically engaged and more influenced by economic issues such as the cost of living. Additionally, these low-propensity voters, many of whom consume news mainly through social media and personal media bubbles, were more receptive to Trump’s messaging, which largely circumvented traditional media.
Understanding Political Engagement Patterns in Recent Elections
Recent elections underscore the fact that Harris won over voters who take politics seriously, while Trump appealed to those who don’t engage as much. But, why does this pattern matter?
This dynamic sheds light on why the political landscape in 2022 differed from 2024. If the latter was driven by economic concerns and inflated costs, why didn’t Democrats face more adversity in 2022, when voters voiced economic concerns as their top issues?
Part of the explanation lies in voter turnout and their priorities. About 40 million people who abstained from voting in the 2022 midterms participated in the 2024 election. They are often less politically involved and are more influenced by economic factors such as the cost of living.
These low-engagement voters usually cast their ballots every four years, consuming news mostly through social circles or personalized media. Data indicates that the majority of political content reaching them was pro-Trump or at least receptive to his message.
In an October survey, we discovered that these less engaged voters spend their time on social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook, rather than on cable news or The New York Times.
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