Facts
For the first time in more than 20 years, Democrats now control both houses of the Virginia State legislature as well as all the statewide offices. In an interesting shift, media pundits and news outlets are now crediting demographic changes as one of the deciding factors in the Democrats electoral landslide. In the past, both parties have shied away from openly discussing the potential impact of immigration on elections.
Left
Generally, the Left has considered any type of discussion of the impact of demographics as racist and xenophobic. That appears to be shifting with a number of articles following the election on November 5th crediting Virginia’s booming immigrant population for the Democratic victory in the State. Moving on from the recent elections in Virginia and Kentucky, pundits and politicians on the Left are now discussing the possibility of demographic change leading to Democrat victories in Texas, Arizona, and Florida.
QUOTE: “ Once the heart of the confederacy, Virginia is now the land of Indian grocery stores, Korean churches and Diwali festivals.”(New York Times)
Right
The Right is sharply split over this issue. Many on the Right stick to former President Reagan’s pronouncement that many immigrants (particularly Hispanic immigrants) are “natural Republicans”. Others often described as “Alternative Right” or “Dissident Right”, see demographic changes as an existential threat to the Republican party and the nation itself. In recent weeks this has led to high profile shouting matches between the two groups at Conservative events on college campuses.
QUOTE: “Demography is destiny in the long run. (Republicans) used to carry California for decades… these old ways of winning can’t last more than one or two more elections…” (Pat Buchanan)
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