One year after President Trump's stunning return to the White House, the Republican Party's midterm defeat was a brutal reckoning. In a column published exactly a year before the 2026 elections, I warned that the GOP needed to confront its growing demographic diversity. The party ignored that advice, and the consequences are now clear: voters who once supported Trump were met with hostility, not gratitude.
The 2024 election was won by a coalition that included significant numbers of Latino, Asian, South Asian, Black, and Muslim voters. These were not the caricatures Democrats often paint – they were devout, family-oriented, and often socially conservative. They embraced American values, from Thanksgiving to military service. Yet instead of welcoming these new allies, the GOP's message for the past two years has been, "We want your vote, but we don't want you."
The level of racism directed at these voters has been staggering. Latinos, in particular, were told to "come here the right way," but that quickly morphed into a policy of deporting anyone the administration deemed illegal, regardless of criminal record. Stephen Miller, now chief of staff, pushed quotas for removals, and government social media accounts spewed propaganda that echoed the worst of history.
Senators, governors, and media figures all joined in vilifying conservative non-white voters. A Texas railroad commissioner candidate posted racist comments about Indian Americans, and Vice President Vance – married to an Indian American – stayed silent. Republicans like Karl Rove and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) who condemned the racism were branded as RINOs.
The Democratic sweep of the midterms was fueled by this alienation. Young voters, Latinos, and other groups that had given Trump a chance turned away. The GOP's loss of 27 House seats was a direct result of pushing away the very people who had helped them win in 2024.
To win in 2028, the party must do more than just "come to terms" with diversity. It must purge itself of the nationalist, Christian nationalist, and fascist elements that have taken hold. William F. Buckley Jr. kept bigots and conspiracy theorists out of National Review, and George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, John McCain, and Mitt Romney proved that conservatism can be principled without being hateful.
But with Trump at the helm for the next two years, a purge is unlikely. The vice president, who could be a symbol of modern American diversity, is more likely to court the Nick Fuentes crowd than the hard-working people of Dearborn, Michigan. Stephen Miller will continue to whisper in Trump's ear, and the Heritage Foundation will push Project 2025. Hate pays, and the podcasters and influencers know it.
Yet there are Republicans who see the writing on the wall. The exodus of Gen Z men from the party is a warning sign. There are Christians who can no longer justify supporting terrible people to protect their faith. The GOP leadership fight is an opportunity for a new direction.
Ronald Reagan's farewell address offered a vision: anyone from any corner of the Earth can become an American. That is the message the GOP must reclaim. There are plenty of Republicans in this country – the party just needs to want them, not just their votes.
