After Mitt Romney lost the 2012 presidential election, the Republican National Committee published what became known as the GOP autopsy report, an effort to identify and address the partys ongoing political weaknesses. But eight years later, after losing another close race, the GOP appears wholly uninterested in reviewing or reforming its agenda. In fact, despite capturing the presidency, the Democratic Party has been far more interested in developing an attractive issue agenda. There is only one political party that is terrified of losing an election because it looks too extreme, said Seth Masket, a FiveThirtyEight contributor and political scientist at the University of Denver. Theres a huge party asymmetry.
But despite the fact that the GOP is quite unpopular and that much of its current agenda such as overturning the Affordable Care Act or advancing restrictive immigration policies does not appeal to a majority of voters, the party is in an enviable position heading into the 2022 midterm elections and beyond. What is to make of this glaring disconnect?
On the one hand, the GOP is fundamentally opposed to the type of legislation that tends to garner widespread public support: generous social-welfare policies. Most Americans want a single-payer health care system, paid parental leave and a higher minimum wage. But most Republicans are ideologically opposed to these policies either because they do not believe they are the federal governments responsibility, or because they think that these policies will ultimately prove counterproductive. A Pew Research Center survey from May 2021 found, for instance, that more than three-quarters of Republicans said that the government was taking on too many roles that were better left to private citizens and businesses.
But the biggest reason why the GOP may not be pushing more popular policies is that recent history suggests its unnecessary. Former President Trumps startling 2016 election victory showed that an unpopular candidate with little interest in public policy can still win. For conservative activists disappointed in the outcomes of Romneys and the late Sen. John McCains campaigns, the lesson of 2016 was that political candidates with personal baggage or extreme political views are no longer a liability.
The current structure of the Electoral College and the U.S. Senate also allows Republican candidates wider discretion in eschewing popular legislation. For instance, former FiveThirtyEight reporter Perry Bacon Jr. argued last March that the GOPs structural advantages over the Democratic Party has allowed legislators to pursue more conservative policies than the average voter prefers. And as Laura Bronner and Nathaniel Rakich also wrote at FiveThirtyEight, Republicans have done this while often being in the minority: Republican senators have not represented a majority of the population since 1999 yet, from 2003 to 2007 and again from 2015 to 2021,Republicans had a majority of members of the Senate itself. That means that, for 10 years, Republican senators were passing bills and not passing others on behalf of a minority of Americans. Furthermore, gerrymandering, particularly in state-legislative races, insulates Republican members from popular sentiment.
Recent work in political science offers another plausible explanation. In an increasingly polarized political system, individual issues may matter less than partisan identity. In other words, partisan loyalty to ones own team is paramount. So instead of voting on issues, Americans appear to more readily adopt the views of party leaders. In a 2019 interview with The New York Times, Stanford political scientist Shanto Iyengar suggests that this is diminishing the relevance of political issues: There is a growing body of work showing that policy preferences are driven more by partisans eagerness to support their party rather than considered analysis of the pros and cons of opposing positions on any given issue.
There is one crucial caveat to all of this. If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the 1973 opinion that established a constitutional right to abortion, the issue of abortion may provide the most critical test to the GOPs ability to defy political gravity yet. Even if Americans have conflicting views on abortion, few believe it should be completely illegal. Which is why a ruling that overturned Roe would put tremendous pressure on Republican elected officials to fully embrace the most extreme position the complete illegality of abortion. It would almost certainly become a campaign issue in 2022, and Republican elected officials would be forced to defend a position that is broadly unpopular.
The first and overriding goal for national political parties is to win elections. So if Republican candidates keep winning elections without offering an agenda that garners widespread public support, there is no reason to expect the party to change. The party is already poised to make gains in 2022 without putting forward a governing agenda. What would force the GOP to reevaluate? It would take a sustained series of election losses, said Masket. They would need to lose elections they didnt expect to lose.
Even then, though, its not clear whether a course correction would be the end result. If the GOP is able to keep convincing itself that election losses are due to voter fraud and/or electoral malfeasance, there is no reason to expect the partys agenda will change anytime soon.
See the article here:
Why The Republican Party Isnt Concerned With Popularity - FiveThirtyEight
- Republican-controlled Idaho House passes Texas-style immigration bill Idaho Capital Sun - Idaho Capital Sun - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Georgia judge rules that Republican Brian K. Pritchard voted illegally - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Trump pays $175m New York fraud bond as Truth Social stock takes huge hit- live - The Independent - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Judges raise alarm over Trumps attacks - The Washington Post - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Why Trump's alarmist message on immigration may be resonating beyond his base - PBS NewsHour - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- House Republican condemns Democrats sexualization of everything after Easter controversy - Washington Examiner - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Emery County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner and Convention Hosts Large Crowd and a Full Slate of Candidates - ETV News - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Who are the candidates in the West Virginia Republican Governors Forum? - WBOY.com - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- The Republican Justices Are Slow-Walking a Key South Carolina Redistricting Case - Balls & Strikes - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- "Never forget": Trump unloads on Republican "cowards and weaklings" in Easter Sunday meltdown - Salon - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Analysis | The revamped Republican Party turns Trump's lies into a loyalty test - The Washington Post - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Trump and his MAGA movement stormed the Republican establishment. Now they have become it. - The Fulcrum - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Senator Helming and Senate Republican Conference Unveil Legislative Package to Expand Availability and Access to ... - The New York State Senate - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- States that lean Republican report more COVID vaccine-related adverse events, study finds - University of Minnesota Twin Cities - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- House Republican condemns Democrats' 'sexualization of everything' after Easter controversy - Colorado Springs Gazette - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Infuriated House members plot early exits due to Republican dysfunction - Axios - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- State reviewing cop-involved shootings - Waterbury Republican American - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- RNC plan for 2020 denialist to head election integrity unit raises alarms - The Guardian US - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- McConnell casts doubt on border and Ukraine aid deal as GOP fury threatens both - NBC News - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Biden Vetoes Republican Measure to Block Electric Vehicle Charging Stations - The New York Times - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Wilson Co. Republican Party of TN shares controversial meme referencing hangings - News Channel 5 Nashville - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- When is the Nevada primary, caucus? What to know about dual contests. - USA TODAY - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Electability is all Democrats discussed in 2020. In 2024, Republicans don't care - NPR - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Trump racks up endorsements from Republicans in Congress as any resistance that once existed fades - The Associated Press - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- 'Betrayal': Arizona GOP chair resigns after recording of 'offer' to Kari Lake - USA TODAY - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- It's Fair to Ask: Is the Republican Race Over? - The New York Times - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- 'No Time to Go Wobbly': Why Britain Is Lobbying U.S. Republicans on Ukraine - The New York Times - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- The 2024 Republican Primary Was Over Before It Began - The New Yorker - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- More GOP holdouts backing Trump as leaders seek unity - Roll Call - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- House Republicans accuse Penn of 'failure to address antisemitism on its campus' - ABC News - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Four reasons why Nikki Haley may be staying in the race for the Republican nomination | Brookings - Brookings Institution - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- The United Auto Workers union endorsed Biden today - NPR - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- After Early Primary Victories, Republicans in Congress Fall in Line Behind Trump - The New York Times - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Kari Lake is running for U.S. Senate from Arizona. The AZGOP tried to stop her. - NPR - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- New Hampshire exit polls: Republicans were just half of voters in their own primary - Reuters.com - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- NH primary plays outsized role in determining future of the Republican Party - NPR - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Trump wins 2024 New Hampshire primary - The Associated Press - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- House Republicans now have one of the smallest majorities in history - NBC News - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Time to back Trump: Republican donors accept the inevitable - The Guardian US - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Trump wins New Hampshire primary, further solidifying path to 2024 presidential election - Axios - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Does Nikki Haley have a chance in South Carolina's primary? Here's what some voters are saying - ABC News - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Trump and Biden shift focus to general election rematch as Haley fights on - Reuters.com - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Biden: Its clear Trump will be Republican nominee - The Hill - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Election 2024: Haley Heads Home to Keep Up Fight as Trump and Biden Look to Rematch - The New York Times - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- AP Votecast: How and why New Hampshire voted in 2024 primary - The Associated Press - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Why Trump's critics see his New Hampshire win as a positive sign for 2024 - POLITICO - POLITICO - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Republicans zero in on a new border the one with Canada - NBC News - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Arizona Republican Party boss tried to keep Kari Lake out of Senate race by dangling job - The Arizona Republic - January 25th, 2024 [January 25th, 2024]
- Iowa Republican caucus date set for Jan. 15, 2024 - POLITICO - POLITICO - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- Republicans sound alarm over DeSantiss sagging campaign - The Hill - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- Opinion | Can the Republican Party Reverse Course? - The New York Times - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- Reagans Republican Party Wouldnt Think Twice About Aid to Ukraine - Yahoo News - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- Trump Wont Campaign at a July 4 Parade, but Other Republican ... - The New York Times - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- Nearly a quarter of Republicans say classified docs charges make them more likely to support Trump: poll - The Hill - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- Which Republicans Have Pledged to Support Their Nominee - The New York Times - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- Calling robust Republican representation in Groton - theday.com - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- John Roberts Is the Last Republican - New York Magazine - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- House Republicans' Impeachment Fever Is a Gift to Democrats - The New Republic - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- 'Boebert wokest Republican yet' The Durango Herald - The Durango Herald - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- Ole Town Republican Party in a hole - theday.com - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- Republicans Want to Mandate a Single Style of Architecture in ... - POLITICO - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- Republicans Are Divided on Impeaching Biden as Panel Begins ... - The New York Times - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- Impactful Quartet of Center-Right grassroots groups aim to advance ... - City-sentinel - July 9th, 2023 [July 9th, 2023]
- Ron DeSantis: 10 things to know about the Republican White House hopeful - The Guardian US - May 24th, 2023 [May 24th, 2023]
- Opinion | The Four Freedoms, According to Republicans - The New York Times - May 24th, 2023 [May 24th, 2023]
- Greene says no one is concerned about debt default in Republican conference - The Hill - May 24th, 2023 [May 24th, 2023]
- Republican concerns may halt permanent extension of expanded ... - New Hampshire Bulletin - May 24th, 2023 [May 24th, 2023]
- The Ever-Growing 2024 Republican Primary Field : The NPR ... - NPR - May 24th, 2023 [May 24th, 2023]
- Why the Republican Job Requirements Push Won't Actually Get ... - TIME - May 24th, 2023 [May 24th, 2023]
- Key Republican urges McCarthy, GOP to hold the line in debt ceiling talks - The Hill - May 24th, 2023 [May 24th, 2023]
- South Carolina GOP Passes 6-Week Abortion Ban, Sends Bill to ... - Democracy Now! - May 24th, 2023 [May 24th, 2023]
- Opinion | Vivek Ramaswamys Long Shot Run at the Republican ... - The New York Times - May 24th, 2023 [May 24th, 2023]
- Ohio Republican attack on higher ed will devastate our widely ... - Ohio Capital Journal - May 24th, 2023 [May 24th, 2023]
- Childless Adults Will Bear the Brunt of Republican Cuts to the Safety ... - The New Republic - May 24th, 2023 [May 24th, 2023]
- Opinion | George Santos Must Be Held Accountable by Republican ... - The New York Times - May 24th, 2023 [May 24th, 2023]
- Republican James Follweiler to be on ballot in Bethlehem City ... - 69News WFMZ-TV - May 24th, 2023 [May 24th, 2023]
- Why Republicans school board takeovers are faltering with voters - Vox.com - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Arizona Republicans have gotten most of what they wanted this year - The Arizona Republic - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Trump-backed Daniel Cameron wins GOP primary for Kentucky governor, will face incumbent Democrat Andy Beshear - Fox News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- DEI divide: Republicans and Democrats split on workplace diversity - USA TODAY - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]