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This 2020 Scenario In Which Donald Trump Loses by Even More Than He Did In 2016 But Still Wins Re-Election Will Keep You Up At Night
Noooooo.
Millions of Americans remember the sinking feeling they had on November 8, 2016 when—against virtually all predictions—then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump defeated Democratic nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to clench the presidency.
It's likely that many of them watching the results asked, "Could this defeat be any worse?"
According to editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, David Wasserman, it can.
A notable aspect of the 2016 presidential election results is that Clinton won the popular vote by over 3 million votes, yet Trump won the electoral college and subsequently the presidency. Wasserman says it's not out of the question for Trump to lose the popular vote by an even greater margin while still winning the presidency by one electoral vote.
Read Wasserman's scenario below:
A very plausible 2020 scenario Dems have to take seriously: Trump loses popular vote by ~5 million as Dems narrow… https://t.co/eGu61qriHX— Dave Wasserman (@Dave Wasserman) 1560907040.0
A couple more thoughts on this: 1) Of the states above, AZ & WI strike me as the likeliest to be decisive “tipping… https://t.co/C0EaG4HE5e— Dave Wasserman (@Dave Wasserman) 1560907902.0
The only times in modern history that a candidate has lost the popular vote, yet still ascended to the presidency are in 2000 with Republican George W. Bush and in 2016 with Republican Donald Trump. It's led many to call the electoral college outdated and call for its abolishment.
People were disturbed by the scenario Wasserman laid out.
@Redistrict This is both a very real possibility and a fundamental crisis of political sovereignty. If the loser of… https://t.co/fVkRtD8A5H— Joshua Zeitz (@Joshua Zeitz) 1560907151.0
@Redistrict Terrifying but thanks we will redouble our efforts!— Invest to Elect IL (@Invest to Elect IL) 1560907356.0
@Redistrict How am I supposed to sleep tonight?— David Wilson Brown (@David Wilson Brown) 1560907259.0
@Redistrict This made me instantly sick to my stomach— Deborah Migneault (@Deborah Migneault) 1560910273.0
@Redistrict This isn’t helping me sleep Dave— 🥺dory🐠🐠🐠 (@🥺dory🐠🐠🐠) 1560938618.0
@Redistrict The stuff of nightmares right here— RobInghood (@RobInghood) 1560910360.0
@Redistrict Scary scenario for our country— Clint Murphy (@Clint Murphy) 1560907415.0
Gird your loins. Get to work.