Vets Vote--- Top County by State

[NOVA Green]

So, although it is pretty clear that Trump made a focus on Veteran's issue a top campaign theme, and during the General Election, it is less clear to what extent this had an electoral impact....

In an attempt to look at this question at more of a Micro level, I pulled data for the % of the population by county by State.

Now, this in no way shape or form can be considered a fundamental study on US Military Veterans voting patterns in the '12 & '16 Presidential elections.

The reason for this is simple and straight-forward. Many Vets live in large population centers, which account for a large chunk of the US Population, and frequently in places with a high level of population growth, so LA County for example has a ton more Veterans than the population of Vets in most of the counties on the list below combined.

Still, by looking at the County level numbers for places with the highest % of Vets, it helps give us an idea of where and how much Trump's appeal to Vets, may have played a factor in the '16 Election Outcome.

This is the source that I used for my data files, which I was able to convert into an Excel format, or if not from another source and did some spot checks to see if the % of Vets matches by County....

http://www.economicmodeling.com/2017/03/21/share-veterans-every-county/

I'm not sure if the data set includes a % of Vets of the total county population, or just the 18+ ages which can obviously skew results.

Many of the "Top Vet County by State" appear to overlap with US Military Installations, so again the methodology employed (Are active duty counted in these numbers or just retired Vets???)

So--- let's get started with a list (will try to include military installation if possible):

AL: Dale-- 13.2% Vet-- (Fort Rucker)--'16: (24 D- 74 R);  '12: (28 D- 70 R)  +8% R Swing
AZ: Cochise- 14.6% Vet-- (Fort Huachua)- '16: (35 D- 56 R); '12: (38 D- 60 R) +1% D Swing
AR: Marion- 13.6% Vet---  (N/A)---    '16: (20 D- 75 R); '12: (29 D- 68 R)   +16% R Swing
CA: Sierra- 15.2% Vet---  (N/A)--      '16: (32 D- 56 R); '12: (36 D- 59 R)    +1% R Swing
CO: Custer- 16.3% Vet--  (N/A)--      '16: (26 D- 67 R); '12: (32 D- 66 R)    +7% R Swing
CT: New London- 9.0% Vet- (Naval Sub) '16: (50* D- 44 R); '12: (58 D- 40 R)  +12% R Swing
DE: Kent- 11.0% Vet- (Dover AFB)- '16: (45 D- 50_R): "!2: (52 D- 47 R)   +10% R Swing
FL: Sumter- 16.0% Vet--- ("The Villages)--- '16: (29 D- 68 R); '12 (32 D- 67 R) +2% R Swing
GA: Liberty- 15.8% Vet- (Fort Stewart)-- '16: (59 D- 38 R); '12 (65 D- 34 R)   +10% R Swing
HI: Honolulu- 8.1% Vet (Marine Corp Base)- '16: (61 D- 32 R); '12: (69 D- 30 R)   +10% R Swing
ID: Elmore- 17.9% Vet (Mtn Home AFB)-  '16: (21 D- 68 R); '12: (31 D- 65 R)    +13% R Swing
IL: St. Clair- 10.5% Vet (Scott AFB)--  '16: (50* D- 44 R); '12: (56 D- 42 R)       +8% R Swing
IN: Brown- 11.5% Vet (Camp Atterbury)- '16: (32 D- 63 R); '12: (40 D- 57 R)   +14% R Swing
IA: Lee-- 9.7% Vet-- (N/A)--- '16: (38 D- 55 R); '12: (57 D- 42 R)                    +32% R Swing
KS: Morris- 13.5% Vet- (Ntl Guard?)-- '16: (23 D- 69 R); '12: (28 D- 69 R)        +5% R Swing
KY: Meade- 13.9% Vet- (Fort Knox)-- '16: (25 D- 71 R); '12: (38 D- 61 R)         +23% R Swing
LA: Vernon- 13.2% Vet- (Fort Polk)-- '16: (16 D- 81 R); '12: (20 D- 78 R)          +7% R Swing
ME: Piscataquis- 11.5% Vet-- (N/A)-- '16: (34 D- 59 R); '12: (46 D- 51 R)         +20% R Swing
MD: St Mary's- 10.5% Vet- (Naval Air Pax Rvr)--'16: (35 D- 58 R); '12: (41 D- 56 R)  +8% R Swing
MA: Barnstable- 9.4% Vet (Joint Base Cape Cod)-'16: (53 D- 40 R); '12: (53 D- 45 R) +5% D Swing
MI: Keweenaw- 16.1% Vet- (AF Stn)- '16: (37 D- 57 R); '12: (42 D- 56 R)        +6% R Swing
MN: Aitkin- 12.8% Vet-  (N/A)--- '16: (34 D- 60 R); '12: (48 D- 50_R)              +24% R Swing
MS: Harrison- 10.6% Vet- (AFB/Naval)-- '16: (33 D- 64 R); '12: (37 D- 62 R)    +6% R Swing
MO: Pulaski- 13.6% Vet- (Ft Leonard Wood)- '16:(22 D-73 R); '12:(31 D-67 R)   +25% R Swing
MT: Mineral- 14.8% Vet- (N/A)- '16: (26 D- 66 R); '12: (35 D- 60 R)       +15% R Swing
NE: Hayes- 13.6% Vet- (N/A)- '16: (6 D- 92 R); '12: (9 D- 88 R)             +7% R Swing
NV: Mineral- 16.1% Vet- (Army Depot)- '16: (32 D- 59 R); '12: (42 D- 53 R)   +16% R Swing
NH: Carroll- 11.0% Vet- (N/A)- '16: (44 D- 49 R); '12: (49 D- 50_R)               +4% R Swing
NJ: Cape May- 8.4% Vet- (USCG)- '16: (38 D- 58 R); '12: (45 D- 54 R)           +11% R Swing
NM: Sierra- 16.4% Vet- (White Sands)- '16: (31 D- 58 R); '12: (38 D- 57 R)    +8% R Swing
NY: Hamilton- 13.0% Vet- (N/A)-- '16: (29 D- 64 R); '12: (36 D- 62 R)            +9% R Swing
NC: Camden- 14.1% Vet- (USCG-Air)- '16: (25 D- 71 R); '12: (32 D- 66 R)     +12% R Swing
ND: Griggs- 10.1% Vet- (N/A)--- '16: (24 D- 67 R); '12: (40 D- 57 R)             +26% R Swing
OH: Greene- 10.2% Vet- (Wright-Pat AFB)- '16: (35 D- 59 R); '12: (39 D- 60 R)   +3% R Swing
OK:Comanche- 12.9% Vet- (Fort Still)- '16: (35 D- 59 R); '12: (41 D- 59 R)      +6% R Swing
OR: Curry- 14.6% Vet (N/A)--- '16: (34 D- 57 R)- '12: (40 D- 57 R)                  +6% R Swing
PA: Sullivan- 12.6% Vet- (N/A)- '16: (24 D- 73 R)- '12: (35 D- 63 R)                +21% R Swing
RI: Newport- 9.6% Vet- (USCG & Navy)- '16: (56 D- 37 R); '12: (59 D- 39 R)    +1% R Swing
SC: Sumter- 11.3% Vet- (Shaw AFB)- '16: (55 D- 43 R)- '12: (58 D- 41 R)        +5% R Swing
SD: Fall River- 14.1% Vet-- (N/A)-- '16: (23 D- 70 R); '12: (32 D- 64 R)            +15% R Swing
TN: Montgomery- 12.9% Vet- (Fort Campbell)- '16: (38 D- 56 R); '12: (44 D-54 R)  +8% R Swing
TX: Lampasas- 15.3% Vet- (Fort Hood)- '16: (18 D- 78 R); '12: (21 D- 78 R)       +3% R Swing
UT- Piute- 12.1% Vet- (N/A)- '16: (6 D- 86 R); '12: (9 D- 89 R)                          +0 Swing
VT- Essex- 10.6% Vet- (N/A)- '16: (35 D- 51 R); '12: (55 D- 42 R)                     +29% R Swing
VA- York Co- 14.4% Vet- (Fort Perry and USN)- '16: (38 D- 55 R); '12: (39 D-60 R)  +4% D Swing
WA-Island- 15.6% Vet- (Naval Air)- '16: (47 D- 42 R)- '12: (51 D- 46 R)             +0% Swing
WV-Greenbrier- 10.0% Vet- (N/A)- '16: (26 D- 67 R); '12: (36 D-61 R)               +16% R Swing
WI- Florence- 12.4% Vet- (N/A)- '16: (25 D- 71 R); '12: (36 D- 63 R)                  +19% R Swing
WY- Johnson- 11.8% Vet- (N/A)- '16: (14 D- 79 R)- '12: (18 D- 79 R)                  +4% R Swing

So the 'Pub % of 'Pub for these counties by state in '16 would look like the following....

[NOVA Green]

Here's the map from '12 using the Republican Baseline....

[NOVA Green]

Here is '08 with shading with a 'Pub Baseline...

[NOVA Green]

So, to understand how devastating the collapse of the "Vet Vote" (Heavily Rural Whites in the counties covered, it is illustrative to go back to '08 and look at the swings between '08 and '16....

AL: Dale-- 13.2% Vet--'16: (24 D- 74 R);  '08: (27 D- 72 R)  +5% R Swing (+2% Pub)
AZ: Cochise- 14.6% Vet-- '16: (35 D- 56 R); '08: (39 D- 59 R) +1% R Swing (-3% Pub)
AR: Marion- 13.6% Vet--'16: (20 D- 75 R); '08: (33 D- 63 R)   +25% R Swing (+12% Pub)
CA: Sierra- 15.2% Vet---  '16: (32 D- 56 R); '08: (37 D- 58 R)    +3% R Swing (-2% Pub)
CO: Custer- 16.3% Vet--  '16: (26 D- 67 R); '08: (35 D- 64 R)    +12% R Swing (+3% Pub)
CT: New London- 9.0% Vet- '16: (50* D- 44 R); '08: (60 D- 39 R)  +15% R Swing (+5% Pub)
DE: Kent- 11.0% Vet- '16: (45 D- 50_R): '08: (54 D- 45 R)   +14% R Swing  (+5% Pub)
FL: Sumter- 16.0% Vet-- '16: (29 D- 68 R); '08(36 D- 63 R)   +12% R Swing (+5% Pub)
GA: Liberty- 15.8% Vet- '16: (59 D- 38 R); '08 (64 D- 36 R)   +7% R Swing   (+2% Pub)
HI: Honolulu- 8.1% Vet- '16: (61 D- 32 R); '08: (70 D- 29 R)   +12% R Swing (+3% Pub)
ID: Elmore- 17.9% Vet-  '16: (21 D- 68 R); '08: (31 D- 67 R)    +11% R Swing (+1% Pub)
IL: St. Clair- 10.5% Vet--  '16: (50* D- 44 R); '08: (60 D- 38 R)    +16% R Swing (+6% Pub)
IN: Brown- 11.5% Vet- '16: (32 D- 63 R); '08: (48 D- 50*  R)   +29% R Swing  (+13% Pub)
IA: Lee-- 9.7% Vet--- '16: (38 D- 55 R); '08: (57 D- 41 R)         +33% R Swing (+16% Pub)
KS: Morris- 13.5% Vet- '16: (23 D- 69 R); '08: (32 D- 66 R)      +12% R Swing (+3% Pub)
KY: Meade- 13.9% Vet- '16: (25 D- 71 R); '08: (39 D- 60 R)       +25% R Swing (+11% Pub)
LA: Vernon- 13.2% Vet-- '16: (16 D- 81 R); '08: (22 D- 76 R)       +11% R Swing (+5% Pub)
ME: Piscataquis- 11.5% Vet- '16: (34 D- 59 R); '08: (47 D- 51 R)    +21% R Swing (+8% Pub)
MD: St Mary's- 10.5% Vet--- '16: (42 D- 54 R); '08: (43 D- 56 R)  +1% D Swing  (-2% Pub)
MA: Barnstable- 9.4% Vet-'16: (53 D- 40 R); '08: (56 D- 42 R)      +1% D Swing  (-2% Pub)
MI: Keweenaw- 16.1% Vet- '16: (37 D- 57 R); '08: (43 D- 54 R)      +9% R Swing (+3% Pub)
MN: Aitkin- 12.8% Vet-  '16: (34 D- 60 R); '08: (49 D- 48 R)           +27% R Swing (+12% Pub)
MS: Harrison- 10.6% Vet- '16: (33 D- 64 R); '08: (37 D- 63 R)        +5% R Swing  (-1% Pub)
MO: Pulaski- 13.6% Vet-- '16:(22 D-73 R); '08:(35 D-64 R)       +25% R Swing      (+8% Pub)
MT: Mineral- 14.8% Vet-- '16: (26 D- 66 R); '08: (42 D- 53 R)       +33% R Swing (+13% Pub)
NE: Hayes- 13.6% Vet-'16: (6 D- 92 R); '08: (15 D- 84 R)             +17% R Swing (+8% Pub)
NV: Mineral- 16.1% Vet-- '16: (32 D- 59 R); '08: (47 D- 49 R)   +25% R Swing  (+10% Pub)
NH: Carroll- 11.0% Vet-- '16: (44 D- 49 R); '08: (52 D- 46 R)        +11% R Swing (+3% Pub)
NJ: Cape May- 8.4% Vet-'16: (38 D- 58 R); '08: (45 D- 54 R)        +11% R Swing (+4% Pub)
NM: Sierra- 16.4% Vet-- '16: (31 D- 58 R); '08: (43 D- 55 R)       +15% R Swing  (+3% Pub)
NY: Hamilton- 13.0% Vet- '16: (29 D- 64 R); '08: (36 D- 63 R)        +8% R Swing (+1% Pub)
NC: Camden- 14.1% Vet- '16: (25 D- 71 R); '08: (33 D- 65 R)     +14% R Swing   (+6% Pub)
ND: Griggs- 10.1% Vet- '16: (24 D- 67 R); '08: (46 D- 52 R)         +31% R Swing (+15% Pub)
OH: Greene- 10.2% Vet- (Wright-Pat AFB)- '16: (35 D- 59 R); '12: (39 D- 60 R)   ( +3% Pub)
OK:Comanche- 12.9% Vet- '16: (35 D- 59 R); '08: (41 D- 59 R)      +6% R Swing  +0% Swing
OR: Curry- 14.6% Vet---'16: (34 D- 57 R)- '08: (42 D- 54 R)           +11% R Swing (+3% Pub)
PA: Sullivan- 12.6% Vet-- '16: (24 D- 73 R)- '08: (39 D- 59 R)         +29% R Swing (+14% Pub)
RI: Newport- 9.6% Vet-- '16: (56 D- 37 R); '08: (61 D- 37 R)       +5% R Swing  +0% Swing
SC: Sumter- 11.3% Vet-- '16: (55 D- 43 R)- '08: (57 D- 42 R)      +3% R Swing  (-1% Pub)
SD: Fall River- 14.1% Vet--- '16: (23 D- 70 R); '08: (35 D- 62R)      +20% R Swing (+8% Pub)
TN: Montgomery- 12.9% Vet- - '16: (38 D- 56 R); '08: (45 D-53 R)  +10% R Swing (+3% Pub)
TX: Lampasas- 15.3% Vet- - '16: (18 D- 78 R); '08: (25 D- 74 R)     +11% R Swing (+4% Pub)
UT- Piute- 12.1% Vet- '16: (6 D- 86 R); '08: (18 D- 79 R)                  +19% R Swing (+7% Pub)
VT- Essex- 10.6% Vet-- '16: (35 D- 51 R); '08: (56 D- 41 R)              +31% R Swing (+10% Pub)
VA- York Co- 14.4% Vet-- '16: (38 D- 55 R); '08: (40 D-59 R)            +2% D Swing  (-4% Pub)
WA-Island- 15.6% Vet-- '16: (47 D- 42 R)- '08: (52 D- 46 R)             +1% Swing      (-4% Pub)
WV-Greenbrier- 10.0% Vet-'16: (26 D- 67 R); '08: (43 D-55 R)           +29% R Swing (+12% Pub)
WI- Florence- 12.4% Vet-- '16: (25 D- 71 R); '08(42 D- 56 R)    +32% R Swing  (+15% Pub)
WY- Johnson- 11.8% Vet- - '16: (14 D- 79 R)- '08: (21 D- 77 R)           +4% R Swing (+2% Pub)

What do these numbers tell us when looking at the swings between '08 and '16, and the increase % of the total 'Pub Share of the Vote between this time frame?

1.) Most of these Vet Counties tend to be older and Whiter, simply because population distribution between Metro areas and Rural areas, however this is key when looking at "WWC Swings" between '08 and '12....

2.) The "Vet Counties" appear to have swung particularly hard towards Trump in certain regions of the Country, and against the Democratic Party between '08 and '12, and this trend is most observable in the key swing regions of the Midwest....

3.) The greatest swings were in Iowa (+33% R, and +16 R raw % increase from '08), Wisconsin (+32% R, and +15% R raw increase from '08).... If we scan around we see some pretty crazy numbers from Indiana (+29% R Swing), ND (+31% R Swing), MN (+27% R Swing), MO (+25% R Swing)....

4.) Even if we look at PA (+29% R Swing), or creep up to Northern Maine (+21% R Swing), and we are not even talking about some major swings in KY and AR, let alone even looking at what's going on in MT and NV....

5.) It is particularly interesting to look at areas where the Republican nominee dropped support between '08 & '12 (AZ, CA, MD, MA, MS (?), SC, VA, WA...

Additionally, we have counties with large % of vets with no 'Pub gain (OK, RI)...

On top of that counties with 'Pub % increase <5%.... (AL, CO, GA, HI, ID, KS, MI, NH, NJ, NY, NM, OH, OR, TN, TX, WY)....

6.) I think HRC really missed the boat on the targeted Trump message regarding older Vets.... in many smaller and rural communities Vets need to commute hours to go to the nearest VA Hospital. Additionally, you had the VA scandals under George W, minimal perceived improved under the Obama Administration, and a ton of rural older Vets feeling they are getting the shaft.... It will be interesting to watch all of these counties in '20.

7.) There is no question in my mind that Trump won PA and WI, mainly as a result of the older White Vet Vote....

8.) So, it looks pretty clear that there was a major WWC Vet Swing between '08 and '16---- Was Trump simply a reset from W. '04 and Obama the outlier?

9.) It doesn't appear that all hope is lost for a Democratic Presidential Candidate in these counties with the highest % of Vets.... 3rd Party support skyrocketed in '16, and in many cases it appears that these were military veterans that weren't big fans of Trump, even in many predominately "White" Veteran communities....

10.) Since many of these counties also have active military bases, in theory it should be possible to pull numbers for "active duty" vs rest of county to see if there is a variance there....

[NOVA Green]

So here are the numbers from '08 using the Republican baseline.... again devil is in the shading and details, so if you run look closely at the numbers from '08/'12/'16 there will be variance in color shading.

[Lothal1]

I dont think you got the numbers right for MD: St Mary's County was 57.5 for Trump, 35.2 for Hillary. 2012 was 56% Romney, 41% Obama. Also, the main military base is Naval Air Station Pax River

[NOVA Green]

I dont think you got the numbers right for MD: St Mary's County was 57.5 for Trump, 35.2 for Hillary. 2012 was 56% Romney, 41% Obama. Also, the main military base is Naval Air Station Pax River

Thanks for the catch Lothal1--- Appreciate your correction!!!

Updated raw numbers accordingly--- not the '12 map yet however.

With the military bases, I had to research through different sources, and also was trying to fit briefly on one line per State. Still wanted to include since there have historically been differences in voting patterns within various branches of the US Military, and thought it would be interesting to include.

BTW: If any of you Vets or active duty members out there (Or anyone else on Atlas) want to let me know if I missed the major base within the county (Or neighboring County) I'll go ahead and update accordingly.

[SoLongAtlas]

I dont think you got the numbers right for MD: St Mary's County was 57.5 for Trump, 35.2 for Hillary. 2012 was 56% Romney, 41% Obama. Also, the main military base is Naval Air Station Pax River

Thanks for the catch Lothal1--- Appreciate your correction!!!

Updated raw numbers accordingly--- not the '12 map yet however.

With the military bases, I had to research through different sources, and also was trying to fit briefly on one line per State. Still wanted to include since there have historically been differences in voting patterns within various branches of the US Military, and thought it would be interesting to include.

BTW: If any of you Vets or active duty members out there (Or anyone else on Atlas) want to let me know if I missed the major base within the county (Or neighboring County) I'll go ahead and update accordingly.

San Diego County, CA (USN and USMC) Dem 56.3% GOP 36.6%
Prince William County, VA (Quantico USMC) Dem 57.56% GOP 36.49%
Fairfax County, VA (USA, Fort Belvoir) Dem 64.43% GOP 28.61%
Norfolk, VA (Independent city) (USN, largest naval base in the world) Dem 63.38% GOP 25.84%
Virginia Beach, VA (Ind. city) (USN/USMC/USAF) GOP 48.32%  Dem 44.78% One of America's last GOP leaning cities strictly due to its large military presence.

Data taken from the CA and Virginia Dept of Elections
http://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2016-general/ssov/pres-summary-by-county.pdf
http://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/80871/

Also this will help https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_bases#By_state.2Fdistrict If it's a joint base, a ton of voters there, although a ton of AD don't vote because of apathy, deployment, etc.

Note, a lot of vets live around the base areas but a lot more, esp. retirees live elsewhere due to lower costs of living. For the data, don't conflate active duty county % with vet % in county.

[SoLongAtlas]

Also this is a goldmine for data https://www.va.gov/vetdata/veteran_population.asp

Also, this map is all vets by county but up to 9/30/2014. https://www.va.gov/vetdata/docs/Maps/VetPop14_County.pdf

[NOVA Green]

I dont think you got the numbers right for MD: St Mary's County was 57.5 for Trump, 35.2 for Hillary. 2012 was 56% Romney, 41% Obama. Also, the main military base is Naval Air Station Pax River

Thanks for the catch Lothal1--- Appreciate your correction!!!

Updated raw numbers accordingly--- not the '12 map yet however.

With the military bases, I had to research through different sources, and also was trying to fit briefly on one line per State. Still wanted to include since there have historically been differences in voting patterns within various branches of the US Military, and thought it would be interesting to include.

BTW: If any of you Vets or active duty members out there (Or anyone else on Atlas) want to let me know if I missed the major base within the county (Or neighboring County) I'll go ahead and update accordingly.

San Diego County, CA (USN and USMC) Dem 56.3% GOP 36.6%
Prince William County, VA (Quantico USMC) Dem 57.56% GOP 36.49%
Fairfax County, VA (USA, Fort Belvoir) Dem 64.43% GOP 28.61%
Norfolk, VA (Independent city) (USN, largest naval base in the world) Dem 63.38% GOP 25.84%
Virginia Beach, VA (Ind. city) (USN/USMC/USAF) GOP 48.32%  Dem 44.78% One of America's last GOP leaning cities strictly due to its large military presence.

Data taken from the CA and Virginia Dept of Elections
http://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2016-general/ssov/pres-summary-by-county.pdf
http://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/80871/

Also this will help https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_bases#By_state.2Fdistrict If it's a joint base, a ton of voters there, although a ton of AD don't vote because of apathy, deployment, etc.

Note, a lot of vets live around the base areas but a lot more, esp. retirees live elsewhere due to lower costs of living. For the data, don't conflate active duty county % with vet % in county.

Firstly, I want to thank you VirginiaModerate for your service to our country, with all of the risks and sacrifices involved that some with wearing the flag and uniform of the US Armed Forces.

Having many family members and friends over the past four decades of my life that served during both periods of War and Peace, this comes from the heart.

Unfortunately, there appear to be very few Vets, or active duty members of the Armed Forces that post on this Forum, likely because of the age range of the vast majority of posters, combined with a significant chunk of Adult posters that are in Academia, that chose a different career path rather than enlisting at a time of War (2001-2017+).

Needless to say, your contributions on a wide variety of topics stand out from most Atlas Posters, and I have been following your posts for awhile now from Syria to LGBTQ policies in the US Military.

Ok--- so the subject at hand---- US Veteran Votes in the '16 Presidential Election

1.) You are absolutely correct that Active Duty vs Veterans overall makes it difficult to analyze even those counties with the highest % of Vets within a given State. I believe that there was some work done at a precinct level by a numbers guru (Alcon) who used to post extensively until recently, which pulled up 2008 election results by Military Base precinct.

So in theory, it is possible to at least isolate AD votes within base communities, among those who reside upon US Military Bases, and don't vote absentee at their parents residence (For Example).

Now, as you pointed out, and from my own personal experience, there are many places right outside of major US Military Bases home to a vast number of AD service members living off-base, as well as their dependents, etc....   Thinking of places outside of Fort Lewis (Lakewood) or Camp Pendleton (Oceanside) where you walk into a business or restaurant and it's normal to run into people wearing their BDUs and the like.

2.) The Vet population tends to skew heavily older, since the dramatic reduction in the size of the US Military following the end of the Cold War. Although unfortunately most of the Greatest Generation, like my Grandfather who fought in WWII, as well as Korean era Veterans have unfortunately left us, there is still a significant segment of Vietnam era Veterans, as well as Post-Vietnam era Vets from the '70s. Inevitably the Veteran Population of that age tends to mirror the National demographics, when it comes to race/ethnicity and educational attainment.

3.) Vets are represented in significant numbers in every corner of the United States, making it a much more difficult population to look at when it comes to objective analysis of election results over the preceding XX decades. How many Vets reside in places like LA and NYC, let alone Houston, Chicago, etc....?  So inherently, this makes it much more difficult than many other populations in the United States, where we can run through precinct and Census data to attempt to understand how Vets voted in the '16 GE.

4.) Recognizing that any attempt to examine this subject would be difficult, the preliminary concept was that if I could start with the County with the highest % of Vets by State, it might at least give us some idea of the '16 GE results, and potentially swings from preceding elections.

5.) The most recent generation of Vets, with the recent Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, that saw surges of enlistment and cycling, although most of the burden was on the shoulders of those that re-upped or were under stop-loss policies, like one of my buddies who did four tours in Iraq with the USMC. The Millennial Vets, of whom I am assuming you are one, are even harder to track than Vietnam era Vets, because of the dramatic increase in population in large Metro areas over the past three to four decades....

6.) Any ideas on how to filter the data better than % of Vets by County and swings between '08/'12/'16? How can we try to crunch the data better among Military and Veteran voters???

7.) I am also curious about your opinions regarding Trump's appeal to Veterans, since he did speak to the subject more directly than HRC (Or perhaps her policies towards Vets was just drowned out by the constant Media coverage of Trump's every speech... IDK )

My general thought is that among older Vets (Vietnam era and older) Trump's message probably resonated, and helped swing a significant amount of '08 Obama voters among the 65+ age Vet population.

Not so sure about the Post Vietnam > end of Cold War Vets. A bit of wildcard there, since this was the first generation of Vets where the US Government started slashing Veterans benefits under Carter/Reagan in order to save gvt $$$ while screwing over Enlisted Men.

Thinking Millennial Vets tended to swing a bit hard towards 3rd Party candidates, as did the Millennial Generation overall, with most votes coming from Obama '08/'12 Voters, with minimal gains towards Trump.

Anyways---- what are your thoughts on all of this, and that of any others on the Forum?

[SoLongAtlas]

Nova, thank you for your kind words.

So, a lot there but a few points. Millennial vets do swing more Indy, libertarian, or right. It's a real mix but more varied than the overall nation.

3rd party support is real with mil, active and vets.

For point 6, I would figure crosstabs or polls on vets from those years by state.