EVANSTON, Ill. --- “The 2018 midterm elections confirmed what diversity researchers have known for a long time. America is two nations: an urban/suburban nation that is incredibly diverse and generates most of the wealth that fuels the American economy, and a rural one that is older, whiter, less educated and afraid of the changes that the other America represents,” said Northwestern University political science professor Alvin Tillery. These are trends political leaders must consider ahead of the next presidential cycle, he added.
Tillery, along with Jaime Dominguez, also a Northwestern political scientist, are available to comment on the outcome of both the national and Illinois midterms.
Alvin Tillery is an associate professor of political science and director of the Center for the Study of Diversity and Democracy at Northwestern. His research and teaching interests are in the fields of American politics and political theory. His research in American politics focuses on American political development, racial and ethnic politics and media and politics. He can be reached at (mobile) 574-514-5758 or [email protected].
Additional quotes from Professor Tillery
“The vast majority of voters live in urban/suburban America and cast ballots to affirm the values that hold in those areas. This is heartening for those who believe that America belongs to everyone, and that we can thrive in a multiracial democracy.
“At the same time, the results last night confirmed that the way our institutions distribute political power favors that third of Americans who live in rural areas and support President Trump’s agenda. As the Americans who favor diversity continue to rack up big vote totals and not see those votes translate into power, we could potentially face a crisis of legitimacy as Americans lose faith in our institutions. We must be alert to these trends as we move toward the presidential election cycle in 2020. We know that President Trump will continue to gin up the fears of rural, white Americans -- it is, after all, his only play book. The hard question for the Democrats is what strategies do they employ to counter this tactic and overcome their disadvantages under the Electoral College.”
Jaime Dominguez is an assistant professor of instruction in the department of political science in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern. His teaching and research focuses on race and ethnicity, immigration, urban politics, Latino politics and Chicago politics. He can be reached at (mobile) 312-375-4868 or j-dominguez@
Quote from Professor Dominguez
“Last night’s election was a clear rebuke of the Trump administration. The institutional check lacking prior to last night will now give the Congress and in particular, the Democratic Party, chairmanships that will give them power to now launch investigations and issue subpoenas into corruption in the White House. First on the legislative docket will be ensuring legislative protection for the special counsel and the Russia investigation. Second, the idea that the Affordable Care Act will be weakened and repealed is no longer a foregone conclusion.”
Professor Dominguez on Election Day in Chicago
“Last night’s election was historic in that for the first time since 1932, the voters in DuPage County went for a Democratic governor; and, in neighboring Kendall, for the first time since 1912. It’s clear these heavily Republican districts were rejecting the current state of their party at the national level.”
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