425 | Patrick Ruffini: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP
Nov 7, 2023
auto_awesome
Patrick Ruffini, author of 'Party of the People: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP', joins The Realignment to discuss how Trump built a diverse Republican coalition, the shifting dynamics of voter priorities, the influence of age on political shifts in surprising communities, and the Democratic Party's response to GOP support from minority voters.
The Republican Party has built a diverse coalition by narrowing the gap between how people vote based on income.
Voting behavior is often driven by cultural issues rather than economic factors, with voters prioritizing their views on abortion, LGBTQ rights, and immigration.
Deep dives
The Republican Party's Shift Towards Populism and Multiracial Coalition
Despite Trump's 2020 loss, he received 12 million more votes than in 2016 and built a diverse coalition. There has been a shift in the voting base of the Republican Party, narrowing the gap between how people vote based on income. The Democrats' advantage as the party of the working class has eroded, as many working-class voters have shifted towards the Republican Party. However, the party's policies have not shifted significantly. The relationship between policies and voting behavior is not always clear, with cultural emphasis often driving differences in voting behavior.
The Lag Between Voters and Political Policies
There is a lag between voter trends and the actual policy positions of political parties. While the voting base may be shifting in serious ways, the policy platform of the Republican Party has not shifted significantly. The shift in the coalition is driven more by cultural and social issues than economic factors. Voters' emphasis on cultural issues, such as abortion, LGBTQ rights, and immigration, plays a decisive role in how they vote. Economic policies alone do not drive voting behavior, as voters are more aligned with their views on cultural issues.
The Growing Populist Majority and its Influence
There is a growing populist majority in American politics, with a larger segment of the electorate leaning economically left and socially right. When looking at policy positions, voters' alignment is more influenced by cultural issues than economic philosophy. Voters' choices are driven by the performance of the incumbent party and are less focused on economic beliefs. Across Western societies, as wealth increases, voters tend to prioritize cultural beliefs over economic policies. This trend reflects a wider dynamic happening in many Western nations.
The Challenge for Democrats in Responding to Shifts in the Working Class
To respond to shifts in the working class, Democrats should address the actual social and economic divides that exist. Policies should focus on issues like social disconnection, opioid addiction, deaths of despair, and educational divides. Democrats should avoid getting associated with the status quo and embrace moderation. However, the narrow space for policy innovation and the ideological sorting of voters make it challenging for any party to find a quick solution. Both parties should recognize the benefits of appealing to the concerns of the working class and adapting to the changing political landscape.
Patrick Ruffini, author of Party of the People: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP and cofounder of Echelon Insights, joins The Realignment. Marshall and Patrick discuss how Trump assembled the most diverse Republican presidential coalition in history in 2020, how and why the GOP became the party of non-college educated workers, what the potential GOP populist coalition could look like, and how these trends could realign the American political system over the next few decades.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode