In his 2004 book "What's the Matter with Kansas?”, Thomas Frank argued conservatives vote against their economic interests. In 2023, I would argue progressive voters are doing what progressives have long claimed conservatives are doing - voting against their economic interests. I have an interesting news article and an informative video filled with data that both caught my attention and solidifies my point.
Young voters are a hallmark of the Democrat base. According to this Time article, Gen Z is a large reason why the red wave didn't occur in 2022. Homeownership is a signifier of the American dream and economic security. Guess where Gen Zers are able to buy homes? Red states. The most popular metros for Gen Z homebuyers are Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City and Birmingham, according to Lending Tree.
A question I think progressives should be asking themselves is why are red states seeing a net migration of minorities? What economic policies are red states enacting that are drawing people from all backgrounds? Texas has consistently topped the list for most Latino net migration, best opportunity markets, and producing the greatest number of new Latino homeowners, according to Housing Wire. Between 2020 and 2022, Texas saw a net gain of nearly 150,000 Latino residents. Something else that caught my eye this week is this video detailing the cities with the highest percentage of net migration of Black Americans and the vast majority (a couple of exceptions) of the cities listed are located in red states.
Progressives should be pondering if their economic policies help young people and minorities.