A recent New York Times op-ed by Yale professor Daniel Martinez HoSang delves into the Democratic Party’s loss of non-White voters, who once supported Barack Obama. HoSang attributes this shift to unfulfilled promises, deteriorating economic conditions, and rising social issues like crime and identity politics. The piece discusses how many of these voters have moved to support Donald Trump, highlighting systemic failures and a lack of tangible policy outcomes.
HoSang’s research, based on interviews with minority voters in Democratic strongholds like Milwaukee and San Francisco, reveals that disillusionment with identity politics and poor economic conditions have caused many non-White voters to leave the Democratic Party. He notes that the rightward drift of minority voters is a long-term trend reshaping the American political landscape.
In Milwaukee, a former Obama voter, Orlando Owens, explained that the Democratic Party’s focus on identity politics and empty promises left him disaffected. He cited the burden of bureaucratic processes for social welfare benefits as a point of frustration, with many Black people feeling their promises were unfulfilled. This sentiment echoes across communities, where deteriorating social structures and economic uncertainties have led to a loss of faith in Democratic institutions.
HoSang emphasizes that these shifts are influenced by new forces, such as right-wing podcasts, influencers, and social media, which present narratives that resonate with disaffected communities of color. In the Bay Area, rising crime rates have also contributed to the disillusionment among Asian-American voters, with some expressing frustration over the lack of action from local officials.
The professor also highlights the impact of movements like Blexit, led by conservative influencer Candace Owens, which have drawn disaffected Black voters into conservative rhetoric. HoSang concludes that addressing the core issues of collapsing social structures, economic uncertainty, and a sense of untenable status quo will be crucial in shaping the next political chapter of the United States.