The Republican Party’s long-standing efforts to attract a more diverse base culminated in this Tuesday’s election, where shared grievances among working-class Black, white, and Latino or Hispanic voters without college degrees played a pivotal role. Republicans tapped into these frustrations while simultaneously criticizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Their campaign rhetoric targeted “woke-ism” to counter Democrats’ attempts to address racial disparities and resource inequities.
On the campaign trail, racially charged language shocked some voters while energizing others. Public debates included inflammatory discussions, such as allegations about Haitian immigrants eating pets, fears of immigrants taking jobs from Black Americans, and rhetoric framing majority-Black cities as liabilities instead of assets. Despite these divisive tactics, the concept of equity remains vital, symbolizing the ideal of a fair playing field central to the American Dream.
Democrats struggled to connect with working-class voters across racial lines, partly due to their narrow focus on issues impacting Black and Latino or Hispanic communities. Vice President Kamala Harris’s “Opportunity Agenda” for Black men proposed significant measures, including 1 million forgivable loans for Black entrepreneurs, but faced criticism amidst ongoing lawsuits challenging race-specific remedies. Critics argue that this approach to identity politics may have contributed to Democrats’ significant electoral losses.