I was recently asked how local Republicans differ with those in other geographic areas and on the federal level, and it’s such a great question because there’s no simple answer.
I took some time and read parts of the platforms of the statewide Republican committees in about a dozen states, plus the Republican National Committee. With the exception of the RNC’s platform, which is a 67-page document, I was looking for order – what the state’s platform stressed, and the order in which planks of the platform said a lot about what was on the minds of those who put together the platforms.
The state and national platforms will occasionally receive small changes and amplifications, but the RNC is still running with its 2016 platform, and West Virginia has had the same platform since 2020. The process for changing the platform is tedious at best, and if extreme positions are going to be taken, the platform meeting is where they will become evident.
The RNC synopsis of their platform is:
Republicans believe in liberty, economic prosperity, preserving American values and traditions, and restoring the American dream for every citizen of this great nation. As a party, we support policies that seek to achieve those goals.
Our platform is centered on stimulating economic growth for all Americans, protecting constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, ensuring the integrity of our elections, and maintaining our national security. We are working to preserve America’s greatness for our children and grandchildren. The Republican Party’s legacy — we were originally founded in 1854 for the purpose of ending slavery — compels us to patriotically defend America’s values. As the left attempts to destroy what makes America great, the Republican Party is standing in the breach to defend our nation and way of life.
My synopsis would be:
- Liberty
- Limited Government
- Prosperity
- American Exceptionalism
- The American Dream
It is not too much of a stretch to say that is consistent across most of the states for which I reviewed their party platform.
I lumped states into categories – Red states with an energy sector; red states without an energy sector; blue states trying not to have an energy sector; and blue states that don’t have an energy sector.
Remember, the goal here is to explain the difference between Republicans in these 50 states.
Red States with an energy sector – all of the Republican platforms in these states had a plank that included “Energy and the Environment” or something similar.
Red states without an energy sector would fail to address the energy plank, but nearly all had an environmental plank of some form, especially since many of the Democrats’ policies aim to reduce America’s competitiveness by throttling our economy through energy policy. They know that bureaucrats do an awful job of picking economic winners and losers. Just look at the red ink flowing from Detroit’s big three on electric vehicles.
Blue states trying not to have an energy sector will usually try to sidestep the negative impact of green rules, and I think Pennsylvania is a good example. Three cities run the whole thing, and they could not be more different – Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. The mess they have made of their energy sector is astounding.
California’s Republican platform stresses economic freedom, and just about begs for relief from their bloated and overgrown bureaucracy. It’s probably the most different from the other states I considered. They were also the softest on some of the social issues (like Abortion and School Choice) of any of the states I reviewed.
I know people who are involved with the party in San Diego. I carry the minute books for the Ohio County Republican Executive Committee in a bag one of them gave me. They are focused on the illegals, and how unfettered illegal immigration (asylum seekers?) is bankrupting schools, counties and law enforcement. They are fighting the insanity coming out of their state capital in Sacramento. Yes, they know we are firing the good fight for energy here, but their border crossing and electioneering (some counties in California allows non-citizens to vote, allegedly on just local issues, but that seems to be a very slippery slope).
All politics are local so there will be local and regional differences, but they are subtle discrepancies.
No, we are not all the same, but we are similar enough to all fit under the big tent that is the Republican Party.
The Republican Oath sums it up very nicely:
The Republican Oath
I believe that the proper function of government is to do for the people those things that have to be done but cannot be done, or cannot be done as well by individuals, and that the most effective government is government closest to the people.
I believe that good government is based on the individual and that each person’s ability, dignity, freedom and responsibility must be honored and recognized.
I believe that free enterprise and the encouragement of individual initiative and incentive have given this nation an economic system second to none.
I believe that sound money policy should be our goal.
I believe in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, age, sex or national origin. I believe that persons with disabilities should be afforded equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity as well.
I believe we must retain those principles worth retaining, yet always be receptive to new ideas with an outlook broad enough to accommodate thoughtful change and varying points of view.
I believe that Americans value and should preserve their feeling of national strength and pride, and at the same time share with people everywhere a desire for peace and freedom and the extension of human rights throughout the world.
Finally, I believe that the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.
