The 2016 Election and U.S. Foreign Policy Paul Sracic, Ph.D. Professor and Chair Department of Politics and International Relations Youngstown State University
Paradox The election will matter for U.S. Foreign Policy Foreign Policy doesn t matter much to U.S. voters
2016 Congressional Election
President, Congress, and Foreign Affairs
President, Congress, and Foreign Affairs
Zivotofsky v. Kerry (2015) But whether the realm is foreign or domestic, it is still the Legislative Branch, not the Executive Branch, that makes the law. In a world that is ever more compressed and interdependent, it is essential the congressional role in foreign affairs be understood and respected. For it is Congress that makes laws, and in countless ways its laws will and should shape the Nation s course. The Executive is not free from the ordinary controls and checks of Congress merely because foreign affairs are at issue.
U.S. House of Representatives (246 R - 188 D)
U.S. Senate (54 R, 44 D, 2 I)
Senators Standing for Re-election in DEMOCRATS (10) Michael Bennet (Colorado) Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) Barbara Boxer (California) retiring in 2016 Patrick Leahy (Vermont) Barbara Mikulski (Maryland) retiring in 2016 Patty Murray (Washington) Harry Reid (Nevada) retiring in 2016 Brian Schatz (Hawaii) Charles Schumer (New York) Ron Wyden (Oregon) 2016 REPUBLICANS (24) Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire) Roy Blunt (Missouri) John Boozman (Arkansas) Richard Burr (North Carolina) Dan Coats (Indiana) retiring in 2016 Mike Crapo (Idaho) Chuck Grassley (Iowa) John Hoeven (North Dakota) Johnny Isakson (Georgia) Ron Johnson (Wisconsin) Mark Kirk (Illinois) James Lankford (Oklahoma) Mike Lee (Utah) John McCain (Arizona) Jerry Moran (Kansas) Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) Rand Paul (Kentucky) Rob Portman (Ohio) Marco Rubio (Florida) retiring in 2016 Tim Scott (South Carolina) Richard Shelby (Alabama) John Thune (South Dakota) Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania) David Vitter (Louisiana)
Continued Gridlock in Washington?
2016 Presidential Campaign
Democratic Party Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton
RepublicanParty Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and John Kasich
National Nominating Conventions: Democrats Democrats (Philadelphia, PA: July 25-28) 4,763 total delegate votes 2,383 to win 712 (15%)Unpledged PLEOs (Superdelegates)
"Allocation Factor" [AF] is: AF = ½ ( ( SDV TDV ) + ( SEV 538 ) ) Where: SDV = States Democratic Vote = the state's (or D.C.'s) popular vote for the Democratic candidate for President in the three Presidential Elections just previous to the Convention TDV = Total Democratic Vote = the total popular vote for the Democratic candidate for President in the three Presidential Elections just previous to the Convention. SEV = State's Electoral Vote and TEV = Total Electoral Vote = 538 AF X 3200 = Base Delegates (BD)
National Nominating Conventions: Republicans (Cleveland,Ohio) Republicans (Cleveland, OH: July 18-21) 2,472 total delegates 1,237 to win nomination
Republican Delegate Allocation From each state having cast its electoral votes, or a majority thereof, for the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the last preceding election: four and one-half delegates at large. plus a number of the delegates at large equal to 60% of the number of electoral votes of that state.
Republican Delegate Allocation In addition, 1 delegate at large is awarded to a state for any and each of the following public officials elected by the state: A Republican governor Membership in the Republican Party of at least onehalf of the representatives representing a state in the United States House of Representatives Membership in the Republican Party of a majority of the members of any chamber of a state legislature Membership in the Republican Party of a majority of all chambers of a state legislature each Republican Senator
Types of Primary Elections Closed = Red Open = Blue
Early Primaries and Caucuses (February 1-23)
Super Tuesday (March 1, 2016)
Current Delegate Count
Current Delegate Count
Primaries and Caucuses Through March 5
The Delegate Selection Process
Democrats Rule VIII (F)(3)(c) All delegates to the [Democratic] National Convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them.
Republicans Rule 16 (a)(2) If any delegate bound by these rules, state party rule or state law to vote for a presidential candidate at the national convention demonstrates support... for any person other than the candidate to whom he or she is bound, such support shall not be recognized.
Explaining the Primary Vote?
Democrats
Democrats
Support sorted by Education level Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/03/02/fractured_gop_field_is_pushing_trump_to_nomination_129849.html
Support sorted by income level Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/03/02/fractured_gop_field_is_pushing_trump_to_nomination_129849.html
Support sorted by Ideology Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/03/02/fractured_gop_field_is_pushing_trump_to_nomination_129849.html
General Election November 8, 2016
Electoral Map
270 to Win 538 Electors Constitution demands an absolute majority Electors are elected on November 8, 2016 Cast their votes in state capitals on December 9, 2016 Votes are counted on January 6, 2017 Possible 3 rd Party candidates? If no one has 270 Electoral Votes?
House of Representatives Elects President! If no candidate has a majority the election is sent to the House of Representatives The House of Representatives votes by state. A majority of states is necessary (26) House of Representatives may only select from the top 3 candidates with electoral votes Has not happened since 1825
Who would win? Democrats and Republicans in most state delegations Currently, Republicans have a majority in 30 state delegations New Congress comes in on January 3, 2017 New Congress would elect the President.
Foreign Policy? http://www.cfr.org/campaign2016/#/
Hillary Clinton Has called herself both a Realist and an Idealist. Opposes TPP Ratchet up sanctions against Russia for its intervention in Ukraine Help wean Europe off of Russian energy dependence Expand U.S. missile defenses in Eastern Europe
Bernie Sanders Opposes TPP Maintain sanctions against Russia for its intervention in Ukraine
Donald Trump Possibly Offshore Balancing? Opposes TPP Urge European states to put diplomatic pressure on Russia for its Ukraine intervention
Ted Cruz Opposes TPP Ratchet up sanctions against Russia for its intervention in Ukraine Supply Ukraine with defensive weapons Help wean Europe off of Russian energy dependence Expand U.S. missile defenses in Eastern Europe Take a stronger stance against Russia s human rights record
Marco Rubio Supports TPP Ratchet up sanctions against Russia for its intervention in Ukraine Bolster NATO s military presence in Eastern Europe Increase NATO s cooperation with nonmembers, particularly Moldova and Georgia Supply Ukraine with unspecified weapons Help wean Europe off of Russian energy dependence Take a stronger stance against Russia s human rights record
John Kasich Supports TPP Maintain sanctions against Russia for its intervention in Ukraine Bolster NATO s military presence in Eastern Europe Increase NATO s cooperation with nonmembers, particularly Finland and Sweden Supply Ukraine with defensive weapons
Congress?
The 2016 Election and U.S. Foreign Policy Paul Sracic, Ph.D. Professor and Chair Department of Politics and International Relations Youngstown State University