Republicans across the country are pushing legislation to crack down on social issues. The latest NPR poll shows that Republicans are at risk of falling out of step with voters.
Sasha Pfeiffer, host:
Across the country, Republican lawmakers are pursuing legislative crackdowns on social issues ranging from abortion and transgender rights to drag performance. And the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll shows that Republicans are in danger of falling out of step with voters. NPR political correspondent Kelsey Snell has been investigating this and joins me now. Hello, Kelsey.
KELSEY SNELL, BYLINE: Hello, good morning.
Pfeiffer: How prevalent are these culture war issues when it comes to Republican messaging and legislation?
SNELL: Well, at least nine states are currently considering bills that would restrict or criminalize drag shows, and more than a dozen states are considering bills that would ban guidance on gender and sexual orientation. This now applies in addition to states like Florida, where policies on these issues are already law. Gov. Ron DeSantis said in January.
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Ron DeSantis: Florida is the place where woke people go to die.
SNELL: Now, this is the center of his political image and could be the center of his political ambitions. Mr. DeSantis is expected to run for president, but as you know, that hasn’t been announced yet. But he is pushing for more restrictive laws for schools, and the Florida Legislature is considering a ban on abortions at six weeks after birth. So on the national level, House Republicans last week passed a Parents’ Bill of Rights aimed at increasing parental oversight in schools. But critics say the policy could lead to book bans and measures to block sex education and other topics from classrooms.
Pfeiffer: How are voters responding to this political approach?
Snell: Well, our latest poll found that a majority of respondents oppose legislation that would criminalize the provision of gender reassignment care to minors. Currently, 54% of registered voters say they oppose such a bill, and 43% support criminalizing the accommodation. But digging deeper, nearly two-thirds of Republicans support criminalizing gender transition care. However, the focus should be on independents. As you know, independents have been critical of recent elections and could have a major impact on next year’s presidential election. More than half of independents don’t want to criminalize that care.
Pfeiffer: That’s just one of the issues in this discussion. What about other issues?
Snell: The poll also asks about banning drag shows, which is a new flashpoint. It also shows that 58% of respondents oppose the restrictions, including 57% of independents. This shows that 61% of Republicans support the ban, again at odds with public sentiment. As you know, this is not the only cultural issue on which Republicans are pushing legislation that conflicts with a majority of the nation’s voters. For example, we’ve seen poll after poll showing that a majority of Americans support protecting abortion rights. And this issue cost Republicans dearly in the midterm elections.
Pfeiffer: Kelsey, how dangerous is it for the Republican Party to continue to go along with this kind of message if the polls show that the majority of people oppose the Republican leadership position?
Snell: You know, beyond abortion, some in the party are warning about going too far. Take Nancy Mace, for example. She is a Republican congresswoman from South Carolina who is introducing legislation aimed at solidifying her party’s more moderate stance, particularly when it comes to attempts to limit abortion rights and access to contraception.
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Nancy Mace: These are not messages we can support. We must stand up to extremism and show some balance.
Snell: But the Republican focus on social issues is actually starting to change some opinions. When our polling team asked about gender transition care for minors in 2021, support for criminalizing that care increased from just 28% to 43% now. And that’s a big change. The next election is still really far away. Many Republicans believe they can persuade more people in the interim, but there is a real risk of going too far.
Pfeiffer: NPR political correspondent Kelsey Snell, thank you.
Snell: Thanks for having me.
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