The Republican Party is turning to old tactics to build a new coalition after losing control of the Senate and Presidency in the 2020 elections.
Politico’s national political correspondent Gabby Orr said Friday the GOP’s strategy to pass laws banning transgender female athletes from women’s sports teams was motivated by its goal of overcoming election failures and recovering local voters.
“My sources, who are going behind the scenes on this issue and who want Republicans to talk about it, think this could be something that resonates … not just with non-ideological voters – when labeled a justice issue – but also with the socially conservative grassroots voters that the Republican Party has to bring out, “Orr said.
Mississippi is poised to become the first state against transgender people this year after its legislature passed a law banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports in schools and universities. Republican Governor Tate Reeves tweeted Thursday night that he would sign the bill.
Orr warned, however, that the strategy could “absolutely” shut down moderates.
“We’ve seen some of the loudest voices talking about it in the GOP are Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia Congressman) and Ted Cruz (Senator from Texas). So they’re not exactly popular politicians with moderate voters, let alone suburbanites Women, “Orr told CNBC’s” The News with Shepard Smith. “” There is a risk that the GOP will backfire at a time when we really saw the country’s trend in support of anti-discrimination laws, including Republicans. ” “
Orr cited a poll by the Public Religion Research Institute that found that 61% of Republicans were in favor of non-discrimination protection for LGBTQ Americans in 2020. That was five percentage points more than in 2019.
Idaho passed a law last year banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports, but one federal district suspended the law and it wasn’t enacted. At least 26 states have introduced similar bills across the country.
