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Common sense won elections nationwide — pointing the way to GOP rebirth
The article argues that Republicans should respond to their midterm losses by studying ballot measures that won support across party lines. It says voter backing for election safeguards, tougher criminal penalties, tax restraints and restrictions on girls’ sports points to issues the party could use to rebuild its coalition.
It cites eight states approving voter ID or citizen-only voting measures, including Ohio, where the voter ID proposal received about 65% support, and several states where citizen-only voting measures won close to 80%. Other examples include Tennessee’s bail restrictions, approved by 67%, a Florida property-tax reduction backed by about 62%, and sports-related measures in Arizona, Nebraska and Washington; Washington’s passed with more than 56% support despite opposition from public-sector unions and others.
In short
- Cross-party ballot wins could offer Republicans a route to rebuild.
- Voters backed election safeguards and tougher public-safety measures.
- Tax and girls’ sports proposals also won support in several states.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Republicans could treat these results as evidence that some policies they champion remain popular beyond their existing base, even after election losses. Building a coalition around election rules, public safety, tax relief and sex-based sports categories may help the party respond to voters’ practical concerns and reconnect with people who backed these measures across party lines.
The case against
Ballot-measure results do not necessarily show that voters want these issues to define the Republican Party or outweigh other concerns; support may depend on each measure’s wording and local context. A strategy centred on them could also deepen disputes over voting access, criminal justice, public services and transgender inclusion, while distracting from the reasons voters rejected Republican candidates.
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