Democrats own the suburbs because they are now the ‘cool kids’ table’

By Guy Ciarrocchi for Real Clear Politics

“How come the suburbs were Republican and now they’re Democrats?”

I have lived in Chester County, suburban Philadelphia since 1995. I grew up in South Philly and started a political campaign for President Ronald Reagan. If I had a dime for every time I asked this question, I could afford to buy one of the Teslas that litter the many suburban driveways.

Today, the more relevant question is: “Can Republicans make a comeback in the suburbs?”

RELATED: School superintendent candidate gets job offer for politely calling two women ‘ladies’ in email

The answer involves both strategic and cultural factors. To improve tactics, the GOP needs volunteers, money and a campaign plan. Republicans are in control of what they do here, and they need to make better choices: nominating quality candidates, developing effective mail-in voting, building coalitions with first- and second-generation Americans, reaching out to people who disagree with this party, and making sure elections are counted transparently and accurately.

On the other hand, changes in culture – changes in voter preferences – present a major challenge. Republicans must understand that the culture has changed in the suburbs and must learn how to navigate this new landscape. Then they must try to change the local culture, a daunting task.

Although often overlooked, culture drives politics and voting. And Democrats now sit at the “cool kids table.”

It wasn’t always like that. In 2000, nearly every Philadelphia-area suburban civic and nonprofit leader was a Republican or Republican sympathizer. Almost every elected official in our suburbs was a Republican. Their mutual relations were mutually beneficial. Republican elected officials helped local nonprofits get government grants and participated in their events — from art to history, fire companies to “open space.”

Republican elected officials won praise, had their pictures in newspapers, newsletters and web-pages, and won awards from nonprofits. This helped incumbents stay in office, as it made it easier to recruit volunteers and raise money to attract voters.

Today, politicians and civic leaders are Democrats or sympathize with them, as are most boards of directors. Now the interconnected cycle benefits Democrats.

RELATED: Kid Rock Goes Ballistic Over Bud Light’s New Transgender Campaign – ‘F*** Bud Light!’

A disproportionate number of active and retired corporate executives and nonprofit board members live in the suburbs. While it is often said that Democrats garner political support from disadvantaged people through social programs, in the suburbs, it is often overlooked that they enjoy a similar relationship with the boards of directors of nonprofits, including universities.

Many don’t realize that corporate executives go to great lengths to extort politicians for five- or six-figure grants to their favorite charities. Like a single parent who relies on aid to feed her children, C-suite executives are addicted to government grants handed out by local Democrats.

Democratic politicians and Democratic-friendly civic leaders use their platforms to advance and fund their agendas, values, and priorities. And many people want to sit at the “cool kids’ table,” especially in the suburbs. So, they attend events, listen to messages and pose for photos. And many end up donating to Democratic campaigns.

Those of us who are active in political campaigns often forget that people don’t think about politics 24/7. Many do not hold deeply held policy positions. People who live in the suburbs and make a good living, work 50 hours a week and are busy putting their kids through school and they don’t spend much time thinking about the war in Ukraine or engaging in outside activities. National debt. And, if they don’t have kids in school, the battles over critical race ideology or the selection of titles on the school bookshelf are just background noise.

It’s understandable that these apolitical swing-voters vote for people they see at charity events or who their pickle-ball partners are talking about. They vote Democratic because “everyone’s a Democrat” right? Being in the suburbs is especially important.

In extreme cases, as we’ve seen here in Chester County, even former Republican Party chairmen “switch jerseys” from “red” to “blue” to get help for their charities or to perform pinstripe-promoting contracts.

RELATED: Parents Need Bill of Rights to Protect Children from Government

The majority of incumbents are now Democrats. Civic leaders and corporate leaders are now Democrats or supporters of the same. Local organizations are intertwined with and financially dependent on Democrats. Donations to Democrats have flowed overwhelmingly. A passive voter hears, sees and is surrounded by all this.

This is a lot for Republicans to overcome. To turn the tide in the suburbs, the GOP must first improve its tactics and build coalitions with first- and second-generation Americans. Doing so will help to some extent at the local level and possibly in school board elections. But it has an even bigger impact at the statewide level, where a three- or four-point swing in the suburbs can lift a Republican to victory.

However, to work toward success on this large scale, Republicans must recognize that they need to address cultural hubs in the suburbs. The goal isn’t to convince left-leaning Democrats, but to win over undecided voters standing in the cafeteria line, wondering if it’s okay to sit at the Republican table. We need to prove that our table is cool too.

Syndicated with permission From RealClearWire.

The views expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of political insiders.