Mood on Economy Up, Race Relations Sharply Down

Americans’ views about the economy, their overall quality of life and the opportunity to get ahead through hard work are more positive than they were before the 2014 State of the Union Address — echoing their improving economic confidence. At the same time, Americans are markedly less satisfied with the […] Read more »

Demography Is Not Destiny for Democrats

Growing racial diversity is transforming a lengthening list of congressional districts, but not providing as much political benefit to House Democrats as many in both parties expected only a few years ago, a Next America analysis has found. … Still, Democratic strategists remain cautiously optimistic that continued minority population growth […] Read more »

Boxer Retirement Provides Overdue Opportunity for Minority Democrats

It’s a stunning fact that a Republican Party that still depends on whites for 90 percent of its votes has more viable minority leaders to consider for its 2016 presidential ticket than do Democrats. Much of that imbalance can reasonably be attributed to California. The announcement by Sen. Barbara Boxer […] Read more »

Much of David Duke’s ’91 Campaign Is Now in Louisiana Mainstream

David Duke seems a figure from the past, the former Klansman and white supremacist who two decades ago was almost elected Louisiana governor. … In his 1991 campaign for governor against Edwin W. Edwards, Mr. Duke largely avoided explicitly racial campaigning, appealed to the frustrations and resentments of white voters […] Read more »