Election Outcomes Reflect Cultural Divides

The recent trend in close elections, where five of the first six presidential elections of this century have been decided by five points or less, highlights a significant shift compared to the twentieth century, which only had five such elections. This pattern suggests a potential continuation of narrowly contested races. The parallel drawn between the current political climate and the post-Civil War era emphasizes a prevailing cultural divide and questions of national identity and belonging. Both periods reflect a transition in societal structures and challenges surrounding the definition of who qualifies as an American.