‘Double Haters’ Don’t Matter If Biden Voters Are This Depressed

It’s a sad commentary on the state of American politics that we are approaching the third consecutive presidential election in which so-called “double haters” constitute a coveted swing-voting demographic. Once again, the two major parties have created a meaningful, persuadable constituency composed of sound-minded voters who detest the choice they are being made to make.

In 2016, roughly one-fifth of the electorate turned out to vote despite their contempt for both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. In the end, those voters broke for Trump, handing him the presidency. That dynamic receded in 2020. Quite unlike Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden’s negatives in the last general-election cycle did not approach Trump’s. Although it was not the majority-maker it was in 2016 (only 3 percent disliked both Trump and Biden), Trump again managed to win the “double hater” demo. In 2024, however, the disgusted vote may make the difference it didn’t in 2020.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.

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It’s a sad commentary on the state of American politics that we are approaching the third consecutive presidential election in which so-called “double haters” constitute a coveted swing-voting demographic. Once again, the two major parties have created a meaningful, persuadable constituency composed of sound-minded voters who detest the choice they are being made to make.

In 2016, roughly one-fifth of the electorate turned out to vote despite their contempt for both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. In the end, those voters broke for Trump, handing him the presidency. That dynamic receded in 2020. Quite unlike Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden’s negatives in the last general-election cycle did not approach Trump’s. Although it was not the majority-maker it was in 2016 (only 3 percent disliked both Trump and Biden), Trump again managed to win the “double hater” demo. In 2024, however, the disgusted vote may make the difference it didn’t in 2020.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.