Analyzing the Impact that Partisan Media had on Vote Choice in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election

This study examines whether the partisan media that voters consume significantly influenced their vote in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. The study tests the hypothesis that individuals who frequently engaged with left-leaning media such as CNN were more likely to vote for Joe Biden, while voters consuming right-leaning media like FOX were more likely to vote for Donald Trump. This research contributes to a broader discussion of how different political, social, and economic factors influence voters' choices. Understanding the intersections between these ideas can provide deeper insights into some influencers in the outcomes of major elections as well as broader political dynamics in the United States. While partisan media may play a significant role in shaping political preferences, additional factors such as personal ideology, life experiences, economic conditions, and social environments are likely to be crucial factors in the decision as well. Using data from the 2020 ANES (American National Election Studies) Time Series, this study analyzes the strength of the relationship between media consumption and vote choice. A logistic regression analysis assesses the likelihood of voting for Joe Biden versus Donald Trump based on respondents' self-reported frequency of visits to popular news websites. Results revealed that respondents who regularly visited CNN but not FOX were over 900% more likely to vote for Joe Biden, and those who recorded visiting FOX but not CNN were approximately 91.4% more likely to vote for Trump over Biden. Interestingly, those who recorded visiting both CNN and FOX regularly showed no statistical significance, indicating that cross-partisan media exposure may lead to more moderate voting behavior. Results highlight the influence of partisan media in voter decision making and the need for further research on media consumption, voter choices, and other variables to continue developing an understanding of broader political ideas.