There is a persistent notion in political thought that conservatism and cities do not mix. Like oil and water, the two seem to be unable to homogenize. But if conservatism is to survive, there must be an aggressive push to promote conservative policies in the cities. Long term, conservatives will lose more and more elections as densely populated areas trend deep-blue, and the surrounding red rural areas cannot procure enough votes to carry the day. To believe that conservatism does not belong in cities is a mistake. It must simply be adapted.
This mistaken belief is understandable. Traditionally, conservative values such as personal responsibility, individual freedom and smaller government hit roadblocks in urban areas. Personal responsibility for one’s well-being is diffused through city resources. Individual freedom is limited: there are a lot more neighbors in apartment complexes. The mantra of small government, when carelessly expressed, tends to alienate urban dwellers who moved to the city for the city amenities that big government provides.
But conservative values are universal values. If they do not have applicability to the cities, conservatives might as well start calling themselves the GOFP, Grand Old Farmers Party. When conservatives approach the cities, they ought to advocate for better government, not merely less of it. There is, to be sure, plenty of bureaucracy that can be eliminated, but the emphasis should be on improving the system. For instance, conservatives could advocate fiercely, decidedly, and relentlessly for school choice in the cities. While wealthy urban liberals already have school-choice in the form of private schools, they like to keep this option to themselves. Conservatives need to make the case for the freedom of school choice by offering long-term support to lower-income families making the transition out of failing schools.
Beyond education, conservatives can check off a laundry list of urban agenda items: Advocate for the urban business community, so that wages can rise and families can prosper. Fight to improve public transportation and public infrastructure. Keep politics out of policing. Illustrate what could happen if the taxpayers’ money were used with efficiency, instead of being directed towards the ever-increasing government, or special interest groups.
The Republican Party has to reintroduce conservative solutions to the cities. But it will take more than just one candidate to do so. Republican party officials seem to think that one day, some special candidate will come along and change the entire political landscape. That is a fairytale. Cities will not become politically competitive through just one lucky candidate, but through years of community engagement and relationship building.
Cities generally do not like conservatives, and we have not given them a reason to. During campaign season, it is common for conservative politicians to use the largest city in their state as an example of waste and bad management, a foil to themselves. While Republicans are often right to point out the problems inherent in our cities, how they do so matters. When you only offer critiques, and no solutions, you are bound to alienate. This damage is long term. When faced with problems, urban dwellers are only able to imagine the most progressive, and ultimately the most damaging, solutions.
The Republican Party cannot only be the party of rural America. If it is, the Republican party will become obsolete as more and more states fall victim to their urban voting blocs. And the problem is not going away, and it is becoming worse. In 2020, millions of Americans relocated, often leaving larger cities like New York and Los Angeles, and worked remotely in more affordable southern and mid-western cities. Republicans are used to losing states like New York, but what happens when Tulsa makes Oklahoma competitive? What will Republicans do when Omaha makes Nebraska a purple state or when Arkansas gets the Little Rock blues? No longer can Republicans afford to ignore the cities. We have a duty, to our party, to our urban citizens, and to our country, to make conservatism for everyone, rural or urban.