From Elise Foley comes a must-read piece on the immigration conundrum facing the national Republican Party as it enters the 2016 Presidential election. Following Mitt Romney’s 2012 landslide defeat among Latinos — thanks in huge part to his failed “self-deportation” policy — some GOP strategists realized the party needed... Continue »
In analysis from the home stretch of the 2012 presidential campaign titled, “His Original Sin,” Ron Brownstein of National Journal noted that Mitt Romney’s general election chances were all but destroyed by his run to the hardline right during the primary season.  Wrote Brownstein, “Of all Romney’s primary-season decisions, the most damaging was... Continue »
The Republican presidential field just can’t seem to avoid stepping in it on immigration.  Every week, nearly every 2016 contender seems to prove our point, that immigration is the GOP’s Kryptonite.  Among some of the recent developments: Chris Christie Calls 70% of Americans “Extreme” on Immigration: Despite carefully cultivating an image as... Continue »
As we noted Friday, Republicans in Texas are considering repealing the state DREAM Act. The first hearing on repeal legislation takes place today. That should have national implications and there’s a very good chance the Texas DREAM Act will be debated during the GOP presidential contest, as it was... Continue »
Today, People For the American Way, America’s Voice, and ColorOfChange.org released an open letter to Republican presidential candidates urging them to make clear that they don’t support CPAC’s ongoing relationship with ProEnglish, a group led by white nationalist Bob Vandervoot. Despite CPAC’s troubling history of welcoming white nationalists as... Continue »
What it Means for the 2016 Presidential Campaign, Immigration Reform and the Politics of Immigration  Potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate and current New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed his state’s version of the DREAM Act into law yesterday.  Already, some observers are trying to assess the political implications for... Continue »
Just before his reelection last month, New Jersey Governor and likely 2016 contender Chris Christie appeared to embrace tuition equality for his state’s undocumented students, saying: I believe every child should be given the opportunity to reach their God-given potential…that’s a moral requirement. We need to get to work... Continue »
Virginia and New Jersey Offer Clear Lesson for National GOP in 2014 and Beyond on Immigration An election-eve poll of extremely likely Latino and Asian voters in Virginia, conducted by Latino Decisions and sponsored by America’s Voice and People For the American Way (PFAW), shows that what candidates say... Continue »
For a Republican Party that is deciding whether to embrace or reject immigration reform this year, the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia show how two different models of Republican engagement on immigration can lead to two wildly different outcomes. In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) is... Continue »
The gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia offer two different models for the national Republican Party on immigration reform and outreach to Latino voters.  Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) is pro-immigrant and doing well.  Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R-VA) is anti-immigrant and heading towards defeat.  The results should speak... Continue »