Republicans are expected to do well in next week's midterm elections, but if they do it won't be the same old Republican voters putting them over. In recent years, the GOP has seen a steady increase in support among groups that have traditionally been Democrat strongholds, like union workers, Hispanics and Blacks. "We're doing well with the old 'Reagan Democrats' coalition of union workers and blue collar workers in the Midwest, while here in Texas among Hispanics we've been north of 40 percent (support) pretty consistently," says Steve Munisteri, former Texas GOP Chairman. "And in some polls it looks like we're getting upwards of 20 percent of the African-American vote, which is not where we want to be, but is an improvement and shows we're moving in the right direction."
It's not just the voters of these diverse groups moving to the GOP, it's also candidates. After this year's election, Republicans could have nine Black lawmakers in the House and Senate, which would be their highest number since the Reconstruction era. Some are already calling this new, diverse mix of GOP members the Pro-America Coalition. Munisteri tells KTRH there is clear evidence most of these voters moved to the GOP on their own. "Our polling over the past decade among Hispanics in Texas shows that where they vote on the issues has stayed the same," he says. "What has changed is their party identification label, which to me represents real progress."
This phenomenon hasn't happened overnight, but gradually over the course of many years. "Sometimes it takes awhile for people who've identified with one party for many years or a generation, to finally make that switch to the other party...in this case they realized the Republican party is more closely aligned to their values," says Munisteri.
Republicans already flipped one heavily Hispanic district in Texas this year, and they're looking to flip others in the upcoming elections. Regardless of how things turn out, there's no doubt a change is afoot in traditional political party loyalties. "I find it ironic that it's the Republican party that's putting together a coalition of Hispanic voters, African-American voters, non-Hispanic caucasian voters," says Munisteri. "It's the Republicans who are winning with a broad coalition, and the Democrats who are on the defensive."
Photo: Dorwart, Mike (uploader)