Why it may be harder for lawmakers who 'seek compromise' to be reelected: journalists

08 June 2023

Tension within statehouses across the United States "have never been worse," as lawmakers feud over often right-wing-backed legislation, The Independent reports.

"It's both concerning for how our legislatures function, for people's trust in the government and their view of policies as they're determined by government as legitimate," Northwestern University political scientist Laurel Harbridge-Yong said.

According to The Independent, although "discord in statehouses" is nothing new, "experts say what's different now is that politics can reward sparring and punish bipartisanship, making reelection tougher for those who seek compromise."

Harbridge-Yong emphasized lawmakers "recognize that the general electorate would prefer that they compromise, but they think that the primary electorate wants them to oppose it," noting, "Civility can crumble when lawmakers draw gerrymandered districts or make voting rules that pick political winners and losers."

She added, "It also erodes when lawmakers debate hard-to-compromise identity and morality issues, including abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. But lawmakers in districts dominated by one party need to stave off internal challengers rather than satisfy the broader voting public."

The Independent notes "Legislatures have seen fistfights, unpopular members hounded from office, mass expulsions and even armed confrontations," pointing to "the ouster of the since-reinstated" Tennessee Democratic State Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, which "gave their party more exposure in the state than it's had in years.

Furthermore, The Independent also reports:

Jones and Pearson, along with Rep. Gloria Johnson, who escaped expulsion by one vote, traveled a national TV circuit, visited the White House, and hauled in donations.

But to political observers the conflict showed further erosion of Tennessee's former reputation for conservative compromisers such as former U.S. Sen. Howard Baker — a key figure in holding President Richard Nixon accountable over Watergate.

Dean of Vanderbilt University's Arts and Sciences School John Geer said "When majorities grow decisively large, the minority party has no power and can only complain and shout," but, according to The Independent, "the majority doesn't need to bargain and is drawn to extreme policies as primary elections become the key to winning."

The Associated Press reports:

(In statehouses) a combination of factors — including an influx of Republicans from the far right -- have contributed to an air of uncertainty in some places as state legislatures begin business. The nation's shifting political sands left parties in some state legislative chambers with such small majorities that each unexpected departure or death might threaten a scramble for control.

Aside from Tennessee, The Independent highlights "division" among lawmakers in Oregon, Montana and Nebraska — all over anti-abortion and gender-affirming care laws, noting in Nebraska, an ongoing "filibuster revealed lawmakers' ideological divides, with yelling, name-calling, crying and refusals to even speak to other lawmakers."

Additionally, "In Oregon, a Republican Senate walkout began May 3 and could continue through the session's June 25 end," which is "preventing a floor vote on a bill to protect abortion rights and transgender health care that GOP senators say is extreme," and "also blocking more than 100 other bills, including a GOP-opposed gun-safety measure."

Geer suggested, "In a supermajority, the majority and minority parties 'are no longer politicians, they become activists."

The Independent's full report is available at this link. The Associated Press' report is here.

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