In a December 22 article by staff writer Lyndsey Layton, The Washington Post reported that the “four days of celebration surrounding” Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) January 4, 2006, swearing-in as House speaker is part of an effort “to restore the [Democratic] party's image as one hospitable to ethnic minorities, families, religion, the working class and women.” Implicit in Layton's claim is the assumption that support for Democrats among each of these groups is in need of restoration. In fact, national exit polls from the 2006 midterm elections show that in three out of these five demographics -- minorities, members of the working class, and women -- a significant majority of voters supported Democrats. Further, while most Protestants voted Republican, a majority of those identified as Catholic or Jewish favored Democrats. Indeed, the only demographic groups encompassed by the Post's categories in which Republicans had a clear majority were married people with children and voters who identified themselves as weekly churchgoers:
Category
Demographic
Democratic
Republican
“Ethnic minorities”
Non-white men
75%
23%
Non-white women
78%
21%
“Families”
Married w/children
48%
51%
Have children under 18
51%
47%
“Religion”
Attend church weekly
43%
55%
Attend church occasionally
59%
39%
Protestant
44%
54%
Catholic
55%
44%
Jewish
87%
12%
Other religions
71%
25%
“Working class”
Total family income under $50,000
60%
38%
Total family income under $100,000
55%
43%
Union member in household
64%
34%
“Women”
Female
55%
43%