GOP's Demographic Problems

Below is a chart of the demographic breakdown for the presidential election of 2012.  As one can clearly see, the Republican Party did well with white voters, but quite poorly with minority voters, a problem brought upon themselves.  In recent years, the GOP has taken a combative stance against illegal immigration and minority rights.  While some Republicans might blame the message rather than the actual policy, it has been duly noted that the Republican party is not an ardent supporter of immigrant and minority rights.  Bills have been passed in states, such as Arizona and Alabama, that would seem to encourage racial profiling to find illegal immigrants.

The results from both the 2008 and 2012 elections do not bode well for Republicans.  The demographic is shifting now, with minorities making up a larger portion of the electorate.  Now, with two strong showings, the Democrats, at least for now, have the allegiance of this critical groups.  The electoral map, therefore, has dramatically changed from previous decades, with Democrats running well in western states as well as Florida.


Here is the electoral map for the 2012 Presidential election:

And here's one for 2012:

As one can see, Obama won Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Florida in both elections, all states that have gone Republican in the past and have been classified as more right leaning.  All these states have large Latino populations that are only getting larger.  In order to ensure that they can survive on a national scale, the Republican Party must moderate their position on immigration and other issues important to minorities, especially Latinos.  It is not just that they have trouble communicating their message.  They need to be leaders on the issues that matter to these groups.

There are many risers in the GOP that could help with this, though many are outside of Washington.  By adapting their policies, the Republican Party could become more centrist and appeal to many minorities, as well as independents.  By becoming more inclusive rather than exclusive, they can promote policies that will benefit all of America rather than some of America and help them become stronger politically, a win-win for Republicans.  Advocating fiscal responsibility will resonate with many people and if the party can change a bit and become more innovative when it comes to minority groups, the GOP can become much more formidable in national elections and perhaps make this country a better place.