The 2020 Presidential Election: Blue, Red, and...Green?

We always talk about politics in terms of blue and red. But what about the green?

No, I'm not talking about the Green Party (though there has been serious retrospective media discussion about Jill Stein in 2016). Rather, I'm talking about the chart below, displaying data from the NBC news/Marist Poll's September 26 poll of Wisconsin residents about the impending presidential election.

You'll notice that the chart is entirely void of green. Of the 1,131 Wisconsin adults polled, not one was unsure of who they'd be voting for this election year.

Despite being a battleground state, and a rather powerful one at that, wielding 10 electoral votes, there is a surprising amount of certainty among residents. Their loyalties unwaveringly lie with one candidate, whether they're die-hard supporters or settlers for the best option. This is a remarkable statistical feat, but not all that surprising when contextualized in a larger sociopolitical understanding.

In many ways, as Democratic candidate Joe Biden likes to remind us, this election has been labeled as a fight for the soul of our country. Is the country currently soulless? Or is it merely in the process of becoming "great again?" This is where Americans seem to diverge in opinion.

You don't need to be a political pundit to recognize the polarization in the U.S. population. Trump supporters are nothing if not vocal about their allegiance to the sitting president, whereas the impeachment process and other public criticism prove the existence of a strong contingency with opposing views. This stark contrast in perception of Trump inevitably affects the coming election, with never-Trumpers riding in droves to vote Biden, and MAGA-hat owners voting to ensure their leader remains in power. Such unabated, unshakable support for presidential candidates has historically been uncommon in politics, with many studies showing that voters are often easily manipulated by the presentation of new information. However, the shock factor of new information doesn't appear to faze voters in 2020.

26 sexual assault allegations and an impeachment later, most Trump supporters have proven that they will vote for him no matter what, even with the current health and economic crises facing the country. Similarly, in spite of criticism of Trump's predatory history, most Biden supporters demonstrated that their loyalty wouldn't waver even in light of Tara Reade's sexual assault allegations against Biden. It's rare that major swathes of the American voting population would be so staunch in their support, so unlikely to even consider the other candidate as an option.

Such division comes as part of the trend of bipartisan polarization that has been occurring over the past several decades. Studies have shown that American voters and politicians alike are growing more likely to vote according to party as opposed to policy itself, but the especially contentious term of Trump's presidency has likely deepened these grooves of disunity.

So what should we make of Wisconsin residents' certainty for their candidates? As shocking as it may be at first sight, it's indicative of a history of growing bipartisan polarization that has reached new heights in recent years, and could be interpreted as either a good or a bad thing. On the one hand, the people know what they want – cheap attack ads and other political stunts are less likely to drastically change the election's outcome. On the other hand, at what point does blind support allow politicians to stop fulfilling their duty as civic servants? It's a slippery slope, one that we must carefully navigate come November 3, and in elections to come.

So, make sure to vote! We know Wisconsin residents sure will be.