Title: What Is the Coattail Effect in Politics?
Headings: What Is the Coattail Effect in Politics?
What Is the Coattail Effect in Politics?
Coattail Effect in 2016
Riding Coattails
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Content: The term "coattail effect" in politics is derived from the loose material on a jacket that hangs below the waist. A candidate who wins an election because of another candidate's popularity is said to be "swept in on the coattails." Typically, the term "coattail effect" is used to describe a presidential nominee's impact on congressional and legislative races. The excitement of the election helps to increase voter turnout, and more voters may be inclined to vote a "straight party" ticket. Coattail Effect in 2016
In the 2016 presidential election, for example, the Republican establishment became increasingly concerned about its candidates for U.S. Senate and House when it became clear Donald Trump was a formidable candidate. Democrats, meantime, had their own polarizing candidate to worry about: Hillary Clinton. Her scandal-plagued political career failed to generate enthusiasm among the Democratic Party's progressive wing and left-leaning independents. It could be said that both Trump and Clinton had coattail effects on the 2016 congressional and legislative elections. The surprising surge for Trump among working-class white voters — men and women alike — who fled the Democratic Party because of his promise to renegotiate trade deals and levy stiff tariffs against other countries helped elevate Republicans.