Parties and Populism in 2016

Dulio and Klemanski examine the role of populism in the 2016 presidential election. They provide some historical context through a brief overview of populism in American political parties. They then discuss how Bernie Sanders’ populist rhetoric helped him challenge Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party nomination and how Donald Trump’s populist message helped him secure the Republican Party nomination and go on to win the presidency. They provide a case study of how Trump’s populism, especially with regard to the issues of manufacturing jobs and trade, helped him win over "Reagan Democrats" in the usually blue state of Michigan. Dulio and Klemanski conclude with a discussion of how the emergence of populism as a dominant theme in 2016 brings new challenges to both parties.