Bitterness and joy, outrage and satisfaction, shame and pride, escapes to safe places and displays of celebrationthese were just a few of the conflicting reactions that greeted the election of Donald Trump. One point lays beyond dispute: Donald Trump defied the odds, whether set by bookmakers or political pundits, or pollstrers .In this bookas they have for every presidential election since 1992James Ceaser, Andrew Busch, and John Pitney revisit the race for the presidency and congressional and state elections through the short lens of politics today and the long lens of American political history. At the core of the 2016 election, they seek to understand and explain the different reasons for Donald Trumps success at each stage of the campaign. With its keen insights into the issues and events that drove the 2016 election ,Defying the Oddswill be an invaluable resource for students and all political observers seeking to understand an election that was decades in the making and will continue to resonate throughout American politics for many years to come.Previous books in the seriesAfter Hope and Change:The 2012 Elections and American Politics, Post 2014 Election UpdateEpic Journey: The 2008 Elections and American PoliticsRed Over Blue: The 2004 Elections and American PoliticsThe Perfect Tie: The True Story of the 2000 Presidential ElectionLosing to Win: The 1996 Elections and American PoliticsUpside Down and Inside Out:The 1992 Elections and American Politics

James W. Ceaser is professor of politics at the University of Virginia.Andrew E. Busch is professor of government at Claremont McKenna College.John J. Pitney Jr. is professor of government at Claremont McKenna College.

PrefaceAcknowledgmentsChapter 1: Twenty-Four Years Later: 1992 and 2016Chapter 2: From Little Rock to Chappaqua: The Democratic Nomination ContestChapter 3: Trumped: The Republican Nomination ContestChapter 4: Race to the Bottom: The General ElectionChapter 5: Red Down the Ballot: Congressional and State ElectionsChapter 6: Aftermath and FutureIndexAbout the Authors