The Importance of Cities in the 2012 US Presidential Election
Summary
In this article, we discuss the importance of cities in the 2012 US Presidential Election. Despite Mitt Romney receiving a significant number of votes from white older men, President Obama won the election due to a coalition of votes from women, younger people, African-American, Asian, and Latino. While the county by county breakdown of votes shows that mostly red counties voted for Romney and blue counties voted for Obama, this map does not account for population density. The urban areas voted overwhelmingly for President Obama, while the non-urban areas voted for Romney. However, cities played a crucial role in the election, as more and more people are living in cities, and in 2012, cities elected a president.
Table of Contents
- The Chloropleth Map
- Population Density and the Importance of Urban Areas
- The Role of Demographic Descriptors
- The Remarkable Importance of Cities
The Chloropleth Map
During the 2012 US Presidential Election, Mitt Romney received a significant number of votes from white older men, while President Obama won the election due to a coalition of votes from women, younger people, African-American, Asian, and Latino. While the county by county breakdown of votes shows that mostly red counties voted for Romney and blue counties voted for Obama, this map does not account for population density.
Population Density and the Importance of Urban Areas
The urban areas voted overwhelmingly for President Obama, while the non-urban areas voted for Romney. However, this breakdown does not show the importance of population density. According to a set of maps created by Tim Deschamps for his blog, Per Square Mile, the centers of population were the places that voted for the president. This means that cities played a crucial role in the election, as they have a higher population density than rural areas.
The Role of Demographic Descriptors
Patchwork Nation, a group that breaks down counties into demographic descriptors, explains the differences in voting patterns between urban and non-urban areas. For example, places described as “moneyed burbs,” “industrial centers,” or “college campuses” voted overwhelmingly for the president, while places that were urban but also evangelical centers or near military bases voted overwhelmingly for Mitt Romney.
The Remarkable Importance of Cities
Cities played a crucial role in the 2012 US Presidential Election, as more and more people are living in cities. According to the 2000 census, 79% of Americans lived in cities. By 2010, that number had increased to 80%. While this increase may seem small, it shows a growth trend. With 300 million people in the US, even fractions of percentages are significant. Cities elected a president in 2012, highlighting their remarkable importance in the election.
Conclusion
The 2012 US Presidential Election highlighted the significance of cities in determining the election outcome. While Mitt Romney received a significant number of votes from white older men, President Obama won the election due to a coalition of votes from women, younger people, African-American, Asian, and Latino. The breakdown of votes by county shows that cities played a crucial role in the election, as they have a higher population density than rural areas. As more and more people are living in cities, their importance in future elections will only increase.
