Is There Hope for Bipartisanship in America?
Entering a new year and new Congress, Americans stood by and watched bitter disagreements within the House of Representatives that required an astonishing 15 votes to choose a Speaker — a process typically ceremonial. Before this, the most recent instance of multiple votes to determine a Speaker was exactly 100 years prior in 1923, when nine votes were required to elect Speaker Frederick Gillett. Although the political disagreement ushering in the 118th Congress was contained within the Republican Party, it furthered the already developing indignant and growing animosities within the American government and people.
The strongest animosities remain along partisan lines, with a distaste for the opposing side growing in both the Republican and Democratic Parties. A study by Pew Research Center indicates that from 2016 to 2022 the number of Republicans who view Democrats as immoral jumped from 47% to 72%. Furthermore, 78% and 76% of Democrats and Republicans, respectively, claim harm by the opposing party as a significant motivation for their partisan alignment. These unsettling divisions play a key role in the affliction riddling our political state, which has led many people to seemingly give up hope for any future of a functioning government with bipartisan initiatives. Instead, individuals frequently appeal to nostalgia, heralding the “good old days” in America when everyone allegedly got along and the government lacked contention.
Although there are plenty of alarming examples of developments within our government and society that threaten the ability of our democracy to function properly, there are also glimmers of hope. These instances of hope have occurred at various levels of government and in multiple forms. In order to highlight this, I will call attention to two examples of bipartisan action from recent months, one at the federal level, and the other local.
At the Federal level, one key instance of bipartisan action occurred in Congress via the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022. Created in response to the insurrection on January 6, 2021, the bill explicitly establishes the Vice President’s ministerial role in certifying presidential elections, sets the objection threshold against electors to one-fifth of all members of Congress, and reframes the presidential transition process to inhibit potential resistance to the peaceful transfer of power. Within both the government and the American people, responses to January 6th have remained contentious, with a lingering group of Republicans continually supporting former President Donald Trump (R) and the rioters of January 6. Despite this, the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022 marks a distinct departure of some Republicans from the need to protect and support Trump and the events of January 6. The bill was sponsored by Democrat Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) when introduced in the House and upon moving to the Senate was sponsored by Republican Senator Susan Collins (R-ME).
In tandem with Senator Collins, 15 original cosponsors came from back and forth across the aisle including Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Virginia’s own Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). Over time, additional sponsors were added to the bill, eventually totaling 38 cosponsors: 22 Democrats and 16 Republicans. Even Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who has previously stood in the way of bipartisan action, endorsed the bill.
In this collaborative effort, key Republican leaders took an important step toward bipartisan movement to stand apart from the Trump stronghold within their party and take legislative action to prevent any future attempts to hinder the peaceful transfer of power. It may seem common sense that both sides of government would be able to work together on such a fundamental issue, but that is not always the case. Furthermore, the importance of the peaceful transfer of power can’t be overstated— it is one of the most defining tests of a functioning democratic government. The passage of the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act marks an important initial step in upholding the institutions that make our government possible and retaining our democracy.
Beyond the highest stage of government, there are also bold instances of working against partisanship. Jumping scales all the way down to local government, in Rockingham County, Virginia, the School Board struck down a parental notification and consent policy. This policy would have required all Rockingham County employees — teachers, principals, coaches, school nurses, etc — to only refer to their students as the names on their official records. Even further, it would require these employees to notify parents and gain their consent should the student want to be called by another name, threatening disciplinary action if not reported. This policy was raised following and in accordance with Governor Glenn Youngkin’s controversial modifications to the Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools.
Situated in the Shenandoah Valley, Rockingham County is a highly rural and historically staunchly Republican area — in the most recent general election, Rockingham County voted Republican at a rate of 73%. Multiple members of the Rockingham County School Board follow this trend with a tendency to vote right of center. As a result, it would be expected that on the parental notification and consent policy, this trend would have continued and that the motion would have passed, especially since it centers an issue particularly divisive along partisan lines. Yet, the motion failed with a vote of 3-1. Various School Board members across the partisan spectrum joined together to oppose the policy, citing ideas such as allowing discretion of the teacher and keeping the schools out of familial conflicts as reasoning. This surprising result led to attention across the Commonwealth, with the ACLU of Virginia highlighting the motion as “an encouraging sign.”
Both the passage of the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022 and the failure of the parental notification and consent policy indicate the ability of the government to work beyond partisan leanings. Although vastly different in content and scale, both seek the best interest of the American people and democratic institutions over parties. Yet, these examples are in no way perfect. In both instances, there was still strong opposition. At the federal level, when the bill was evaluated in the Senate Rules Committee, there was one opposition vote: Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). At the local level, there was also one opposition vote by board member Matt Cross.
Instances of bipartisan action are powerful and should garner some level of hope in the ability to work together and move beyond the deep and dangerous divisions currently present. Yet, we must not underestimate the opposition votes. There remains a far-right faction of the Republican Party who are not diminishing. They are persistent and they are motivated. The 2022 general election may not have been the “Red Wave” many individuals were expecting, but the Speaker election showed in full force that there is a pocket of far-right Republicans who will seek nothing but to achieve their ends, even when by means of chaos and inefficiency.
All in all, there is hope for bipartisanship in America, but it must be an active, cautious hope. It must be a hope that continually shows up to vote in all elections. The federal stage often garners the most attention, but state and local government matter in profound ways. It is not enough to silently support a more stable, healthier democracy, we must take action that protects democratic institutions and vote for individuals who want to work together with others across party lines toward a more perfect union.
For Virginians, learn more about your elected officials by visiting: https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/ and register to vote by visiting: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/citizen-portal/.