Labor Unions’ Impact on Presidential Races
ABSTRACT
Labor unions do not only donate, contribute or fund political parties or presidential candidates but also influence presidential elections. The question, however, is how do they-labor unions- impact presidential races? This research examines and investigates how labor unions impact voter turnouts and vote choice during presidential races. Investigating and analyzing electioneering trends in the United States for the period, 1984-2012, through quantitative analysis of secondary data from electoral databases and statistics. It shows that socioeconomic status of labor union households have had an undeniable influence on voters choice of a presidential candidate, at least as shown by the last 8 elections-from 1984 to 2012-United State presidential elections. It also shows that being a member of a labor union or belonging to a labor union household impacts a person’s decision of whom to vote for in presidential races. Labor unions also influence not only presidential elections, but, presidential primaries, which eventually translates to their impact on the electoral votes contest. Additionally, it confirms that labor unions, surprisingly, have no significant impact on voter turnout in presidential races, at least, as far as American elections are concerned. This is explained by political, socioeconomic factors and declining membership of the labor unions.
INTRODUCTION
How labor unions impact, is not a simple question at all, so let’s start by looking in places where answers may be easier to find. I started by looking at donations. Since the decision of the court case Citizens United v Federal Election Commission, it has been made possible to donate unlimited amounts of money to election campaigns. Most would think that since the union is on a heavily and steadily decline with membership, that there would be no way for them to play any type of role. This is especially true when going up against millionaires and billionaires, whose sole interests
Labor unions do not only donate, contribute or fund political parties or presidential candidates but also influence presidential elections. The question, however, is how do they-labor unions- impact presidential races? This research examines and investigates how labor unions impact voter turnouts and vote choice during presidential races. Investigating and analyzing electioneering trends in the United States for the period, 1984-2012, through quantitative analysis of secondary data from electoral databases and statistics. It shows that socioeconomic status of labor union households have had an undeniable influence on voters choice of a presidential candidate, at least as shown by the last 8 elections-from 1984 to 2012-United State presidential elections. It also shows that being a member of a labor union or belonging to a labor union household impacts a person’s decision of whom to vote for in presidential races. Labor unions also influence not only presidential elections, but, presidential primaries, which eventually translates to their impact on the electoral votes contest. Additionally, it confirms that labor unions, surprisingly, have no significant impact on voter turnout in presidential races, at least, as far as American elections are concerned. This is explained by political, socioeconomic factors and declining membership of the labor unions.
INTRODUCTION
How labor unions impact, is not a simple question at all, so let’s start by looking in places where answers may be easier to find. I started by looking at donations. Since the decision of the court case Citizens United v Federal Election Commission, it has been made possible to donate unlimited amounts of money to election campaigns. Most would think that since the union is on a heavily and steadily decline with membership, that there would be no way for them to play any type of role. This is especially true when going up against millionaires and billionaires, whose sole interests
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