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Rigged-Election Rhetoric: Coverage and Consequences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 November 2018

Kirby Goidel
Affiliation:
Texas A&M University
Keith Gaddie
Affiliation:
University of Oklahoma
Spencer Goidel
Affiliation:
Texas A&M University

Abstract

Using content analysis and original survey data, we investigated the news coverage and consequences of Donald Trump’s “rigged-election” claims during the 2016 presidential election. We added to previous literature by showing that the effects of such claims were highly contingent on individual partisan affiliation. Republicans and Independents who believed that the elections were rigged via voter fraud or media bias were more likely to report that they intended to vote or had already voted. Democrats and Independents who believed that Hillary Clinton would benefit from voter fraud or media bias were more likely to vote for Donald Trump.

Type
Article
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 2018 

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