New data shows that Hispanic and working-class voters poll almost identically on progressive issues. But not in favor of the Democrats.
Ruy Teixeira stated that he was leaving the Center for American Progress to head over to the American Enterprise Institute.
Teixeira’s role in the Beltway scrum involved him arguing against calls for right-to-right economic policy. However, he insists that his own views on the matter have not changed, but that the current cultural environment of progressive organizations “sends us running screaming from our left.”
He tells me that “my perspective is that the single most important thing in the social system to focus on is the economic system.” It’s class. We are sitting in AEI’s elegantly furnished library. A boisterous celebration of conservative intellectual Harvey Mansfield is taking place down the hall. William Kristol has just left the room, dressed in a suit. Teixeira’s sneakers and untucked shirt aren’t the only things that seem out of place. “I’m just a social democratic man who wants to make the world a better place”.
Teixeira was one of the progressives who raised the alarm for Democrats. He tried to get them to see that Democrats’ push into far-left, out-of-touch territory socially is hurting them not only in the midterms but also in future elections. Although it may seem odd that Teixeira joined AEI, it shows that right-leaning groups are more open-minded to new ideas than progressive ones.
In a column for The Liberal Patriot, Teixeira points to data that is absolutely dire for Democrats in November and beyond. Teixeira points out that “strong progressives” tend to be white, college-educated voters. Their views are vastly different from those of working-class or Hispanic voters in almost every demographic group.
“America is not the greatest country in the world vs. America is the greatest country in the world. By 66% to 28 %, strong progressives say America is not the greatest country in the world. By 70-23, Hispanics say the reverse &working class voters concur.“ https://t.co/zGC6SEIj5H
— Christina Sommers (@CHSommers) July 17, 2022
Echelon’s crosstabs allow you to compare the basic political views of progressives with those of working-class voters and Hispanics. Here are some examples.
1. America is not the greatest nation in the world, but America is the most important. Strong progressives believe America is not the best country in the world, with a 66% to 28% margin. Hispanics believe the opposite while working-class voters agree by 69 to 23.
2. Racism is ingrained in our society, and its policies and institutions. The first statement was supported by a remarkable 94-6 margin by progressives who are strong and certain of America’s systemic racism. Hispanics, however, disagree and support the second statement that racism is caused by individuals by 58-36. Working class voters, by 57-33, also endorse the second statement.
3. The government should make it easier for illegal immigrants to enter the US legally. The government should increase border security and enforce illegal immigration. This is a strong progressive position. They favor easier immigration at 97-2. Hispanics are divided, with 44% favoring more border security and enforcement, and 47% preferring easier immigration. The working class votes go further, approving more border security enforcement and enforcement by 58-32.
4. Transgender athletes should have the right to participate in teams that reflect their gender identity. A majority of progressives support athletes being allowed to play on the team that matches their gender identity, 66-19. Hispanic voters, 64-22, believe that athletes should be allowed to play on teams that reflect their birth gender. Working class voters are nearly identical at 63-22.
Hispanic and working-class voters are more at odds than ever with progressive Democrats. The push for social reform by the latter is pushing Hispanic votes at a higher rate than working-class voters before 2016. Union households split over who to vote for in the year Trump won. This helped Trump win blue-collar states and ended the Democrats’ grip on the rust belt.
Now, however, there are Hispanic voters that not only disapprove of President Joe Biden’s agenda but actively support Republicans on key issues. Hispanic voters are key to Democrats in the southern states of Texas, Florida, and other states. While working-class voters have long been the backbone for Democrats in these rust belt states, they also make up the majority of Democrats in states such as Texas and Florida. In the last election cycles, however, Hispanic voters from all backgrounds began to vote for Trump and Republicans in particular. The Obama administration’s attacks on factory and mining jobs caused anger among working-class voters and they voted for Trump.
However, the Democrats are being controlled by ultra-progressive voices and the Biden administration listens only to them. These two voter groups are becoming more divided by social issues than the policies that alienated them. The Democratic Party has responded by ignoring the concerns and focusing on a few social issues, rather than allowing diversity of thought.
As the Democrats lose their sanity, this will be a problem that continues beyond November. It’s insane to close your doors to more voters. But the Democrats are retreating into far-left wokeism and similar behavior.
