Toppling Trump

This book tells the story of the 2020 presidential election campaign, exploring how Joe Biden secured the Democratic nomination and defeated Donald Trump in the general election. It argues that Democratic Party elites paved the way for Biden’s victory, enabling him to overcome numerous campaign missteps to defeat one of the largest, wealthiest, most competitive fields in history. It details how elites discouraged potential rivals from entering the race, orchestrated rules to truncate the field, and steered voters toward Biden’s candidacy both directly and indirectly. It shows how they helped the Biden campaign overcome early defeats in the first several contests and turn his campaign around. And it shows the critical role they played in mobilizing partisans to help Biden win the general election campaign and thwarting efforts to undermine his victory. Simply put, the book demonstrates that Biden would not have won the White House without maneuvering and manipulation by the Democratic establishment.