The 2016 election exposed an America of deep divides over race, ethnicity and culture — a nation carved into two large coalitions, roughly equal in size but radically different in demographics and desires. …
The electorate coalitions in 2016 were similar to the 2012 election, with one major exception: white voters without college degrees, already a Republican-leaning bloc, shifted decisively to Trump. …
In 159 counties, mostly in the Midwest and Appalachia, Trump ran 12 percent better than Romney, according to TargetSmart, a political data firm.
In effect, non-college whites voted as a bloc for Trump, in the same way that blacks, Latinos, and Asians have overwhelmingly supported Democrats and that evangelical Christians have backed GOP candidates in recent elections. CONT.
Perry Bacon, Jr., NBC News