Analyzing Swing States in Presidential Elections: The Case of Wisconsin

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Author: Zuo, Michelle
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Zuo, Michelle
author_facet Zuo, Michelle
contents This paper quantitatively analyzes county-level voting patterns in Wisconsin's presidential elections from 2000 to 2024. As a pivotal swing state, Wisconsin has alternated between Democratic and Republican candidates since 2012. Using data from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, we examine vote totals across 72 counties and seven election cycles. Pearson correlations measure similarity in county voting trajectories, while choropleth maps visualize spatial shifts. Results show strong clustering of vote changes: Democratic and Republican gains between 2016 and 2020 were concentrated in southeastern urban and suburban counties, with rural areas showing little change. Correlations reveal a north-south divide, as southern counties exhibit similar trends and northern ones diverge. These findings highlight spatial heterogeneity in electoral dynamics and the decisive role of urban mobilization in statewide outcomes.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_26867
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Analyzing Swing States in Presidential Elections: The Case of Wisconsin
Zuo, Michelle
Physics and Society
This paper quantitatively analyzes county-level voting patterns in Wisconsin's presidential elections from 2000 to 2024. As a pivotal swing state, Wisconsin has alternated between Democratic and Republican candidates since 2012. Using data from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, we examine vote totals across 72 counties and seven election cycles. Pearson correlations measure similarity in county voting trajectories, while choropleth maps visualize spatial shifts. Results show strong clustering of vote changes: Democratic and Republican gains between 2016 and 2020 were concentrated in southeastern urban and suburban counties, with rural areas showing little change. Correlations reveal a north-south divide, as southern counties exhibit similar trends and northern ones diverge. These findings highlight spatial heterogeneity in electoral dynamics and the decisive role of urban mobilization in statewide outcomes.
title Analyzing Swing States in Presidential Elections: The Case of Wisconsin
topic Physics and Society
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.26867