Republicans won by voter repudiation

OPINION:

History has a pattern of repeating itself, as it did Tuesday when voters once again rejected the party in power.

However, Republicans assume at great peril that voters validated their policies when what they did was repudiate the other side’s governing failures.

Repudiation victories have become one of the most distinctive patterns in modern American politics. The result has been a political pendulum that swings back and forth nearly every election cycle.

The question now is will the GOP break the cycle by turning 2024 into a validation election?

Based on my experience having founded and led numerous organizations on the right, the first step to achieving any measure of policy success is to listen to the people you’re trying to help.

In the week leading up to the election, polls showed that Americans were concerned about pocketbook issues, especially record inflation. This cut across every demographic, including the coveted suburban female vote. Talk to people at any gas station or grocery store across the country and they’ll share how they’re pre-paying $5, $10 or $15 at the pump because that’s all they can afford. They’re cutting corners on groceries so they can pay rent.

Americans are also concerned about what’s happening in their neighborhoods and schools. Violence and lawlessness have spread into every facet of society, yet the left has underfunded and demoralized police forces. Catastrophic learning loss and widespread mental health issues have been the result of unnecessary school lockdowns, yet teachers’ unions and school bureaucracies are focusing on transgender ideology and critical race theory.

More subtly, Americans are rejecting identity politics. To most, diversity still means people from all backgrounds coming together in the American melting pot. The left has instead transformed diversity into separation, division, and resentment. That is not how citizens see themselves or how they live. According to the 2020 US census, most white people live in mixed-race neighborhoods for the first time in modern history. In their daily lives, people from all backgrounds get along and want unity and belief in a shared American Dream.

If Republicans heed the motivation of voters who put them in charge, there are several measures they can take to solve problems and knit our social fabric back together.

The first is to promote economic growth and overall prosperity. To do that, Republicans must rein in out-of-control spending that has driven inflation to a 40-year high and the national debt to over 133% of the economy. Self-imposed spending caps, which will reduce deficits are a start. Explaining the consequences of astronomical debt to younger Americans and their children, who now have an interest burden approaching $1 billion a year, will be essential.

Second, - also tied to the economy - is to adopt a sustainable energy policy that lowers gas prices. Blue-collar workers in places like Pennsylvania made this clear at the ballot box. Tapping into domestic energy sources creates good-paying jobs, lowers energy costs, and reduces U.S. reliance on bad actors. Republicans must unleash every energy source available at home while also encouraging research and development to make energy cleaner. It does not have to be one or the other.

The third area of opportunity is to stop the administrative state’s overreach. This will return more power to the people, by freeing them from unnecessary, often politically motivated rules and regulations that make it harder to start a small business, run a school or save and invest hard-earned money. Further, it encourages problem-solving at the local level, which is where issues like education and crime should be addressed.

Finally, solving immigration will strengthen the economy and unite us. Securing the border, while providing an orderly, controlled process for entry into the country can be done simultaneously. With a high demand for workers, coupled with declining birth rates, America needs legal immigration more than ever.

Further, a Latino comes of voting age every 30 seconds. The right must remind these young voters that their values – faith, family, and hard work – are reflected in the party that offers the best pathway to achieving the American dream. As we saw on Tuesday, Hispanics are gravitating towards the right for this reason.

Republican majorities must offer a positive vision and deliver on an agenda that people want. If they do, the 2024 election could see a landmark validation that resets the arc of America’s 21st-century destiny.

* John Tillman is CEO of The American Culture Project. He has founded and chaired numerous organizations within the conservative movement.