Did rural resentment of government employees elect Donald Trump?. Issue 2 (3rd April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carpenter, Stephanie M.; Brauer, Markus; Niedenthal, Paula M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of elections, public opinions & parties. Volume 32:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 469
• Page End: 488
• Publication Date: 2022-04-03
• Subjects: Elections -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Political parties -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Public opinion -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1945- -- Periodicals; 324.941086005
• DOI: 10.1080/17457289.2020.1844217
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-7289

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A recent "rural resentment" hypothesis holds that the rise of conservative politicians in the state of Wisconsin is explained by rural residents' resentment of beneficiaries of economic advantages, especially government employees (Cramer, Katherine J. 2016. The Politics of Resentment: Rural Consciousness in Wisconsin and the Rise of Scott Walker . University of Chicago Press). We tested a national rural resentment hypothesis using survey methodology. 3820 respondents representing all 50 US states reported the extent to which they felt resentment- and admiration-related emotions toward public school teachers, state university professors, and agents of departments of natural resources, and reported the presidential candidate they voted for in the 2016 general election. Rural and urban Americans' resentment of government employees was significantly lower than their admiration for members of those groups. Political party affiliation and education predicted resentment of government employees more than did rural-urban residence. Although Americans residing in rural areas were more likely to have voted for Donald Trump than Americans residing in urban areas, resentment of government employees accounted for a relatively small proportion of this effect.