Who Can Be the Moderate Political Candidates in Democratic Strongholds?

Moderate political candidates are pro-business but socially moderate. They have a balanced schedule and can be effective in Democratic strongholds. But the transition is not an easy one. Many politicians rant to a converted audience instead of trying to win over an unconverted audience. A recent example is Boris Johnson’s presentation about a no-deal Brexit. Even though most British people and political parties oppose it, Johnson and his fellow Brexit supporters are still promoting the policy.

Pro-Business

Some state politicians have adopted a socially moderate plan while running for office, such as Utah Lt. Governor Spencer Cox, who has made headlines for criticizing President Trump and reaching out to gays. He is expected to run for governor in 2020. Utah state legislatures are incredibly partisan, so it is essential to have a moderate candidate who can work across party lines. In Texas, the only moderate Republican in the Legislature is state Rep. Sarah Davis. Davis supports abortion rights and has been endorsed by the leading LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Texas.

Democrats and Republicans often woo moderate voters, but these candidates aren’t elected. For example, Democrats need 60 percent of the average voter to win a presidential election, while Republicans need 40 percent. Despite this, both parties court the moderate vote and ignore it once they win. As a result, moderate political candidates have few opportunities to advance to the highest levels of government.

In contrast, conservative politicians dominate the Republican Party, which is dominated by conservatives. Many Republicans think their job is to hack away at government, cut taxes, evict illegal immigrants, outlaw abortion, and keep discrimination against gays. Nevertheless, most voters have proven they don’t want right-wing or left-wing policies. As a result, both parties have relegated political moderates to the fringes.

Balanced Agenda

Whether you agree with liberals or conservatives, moderate political candidates share some common characteristics. For instance, most believe government should play a role in equal opportunity. However, they also disagree that the “deck is stacked against us”: Seven out of ten disagree.

Moderates aren’t ill-informed, but rather, they see both sides of complex issues. And while they see both parties as overly ideological, their attitudes often make them lean slightly to the right. The result is that moderates represent about 44 percent of non-white voters and more than 40 percent of millennials.

Moderates often start with a vision for the future. The image is usually derived from historical lessons. They avoid committing to abstract ideas but revere the American dream and the way of life. Their political plan usually includes a combination of policies from both parties. They don’t seek to resolve the underlying arguments but rather to preserve the balance between the two sides.

Moderate candidates base their agenda on the country’s needs, while immoderate make decisions based on their preconceived ideas. But, unlike a liberal, a medium can change its mind when the problem has been identified.

Effective in Democratic Strongholds

If you think conservative political candidates aren’t effective in Democratic strongholds, think again. Indeed, conservative figures often outperform their more moderate counterparts, but this is also true in reverse. In some areas, moderate political candidates do well and win.