80 million eligible voters did not vote
80 million eligible voters sat out the last presidential election, representing the largest untapped reservoir for political change.
Snapshot · The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
America at 250 — with Heather Cox Richardson
Explore episode
Jun 18, 2026
Where this was said
How to Mobilise 80 Million Non-Voters: The Neighbour-to-Neighbour Model
At 1:02:44 · chapter starts 1:02:36
Audience member Kristen's question about 80 million eligible non-voters in the last presidential election gives Richardson her clearest historical argument of the episode. The formula for changing American politics is not converting committed MAGA voters — that is a waste of energy — but mobilising the vast pool of soft voters and non-participants [1] — Heather Cox Richardson "The 1890 midterms were one of the biggest political shifts in history — driven entirely by neighbours informing neighbours about what was r…" 1:03:20 . The 1890 midterms remain one of the biggest political shifts in American history, produced not by charismatic leadership but by ordinary people going into farming districts, starting newspapers, holding picnics, and informing their neighbours about what was actually happening in Washington. The Benjamin Harrison administration ignored the farmers because 'they always vote for us' — and was devastated at the polls. That template, Richardson argues, is exactly what is needed now, and it is already happening around the country. Galloway closes by praising Richardson's own role in that mobilisation, noting that on his recent live podcast tour, Richardson's name drew eruptions of applause from every audience, and urging her to hit the campaign trail herself.
How to Mobilise 80 Million Non-Voters: Talk to Your Neighbours
The 1890 midterms were one of the biggest political shifts in history — driven entirely by neighbours informing neighbours about what was really happening. You cannot convert a MAGA voter. You can inform and activate the 80 million who stayed home.
Midterm shift of 1890 as biggest in history
The 1890 midterms were among the largest political shifts in American history, driven by grassroots mobilisation of farmers and workers who previously hadn't paid attention.
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