Pro-Baby GOP
Do Republicans have more babies than Democrats? Or do voters with more babies favor Republicans over Democrats?
That's an interesting question, because an analysis of population statistics and election results shows that states with Republican officials tend to have higher birthrates than states that lean Democratic.
As reported Feb. 10, 1999, by Washington Times staff writer Cheryl Wetzstein, the five states with the highest total fertility rates in 1996 were Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Alaska and Texas. In 1998, the GOP held three of five governorships in those states, eight of 10 U.S. Senate seats and 24 of 42 U.S. House seats -- a total edge in top offices of 35 Republicans to 22 Democrats in the high-fertility states.
The states with the lowest total fertility rates in 1996 were Massachusetts, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Maine and Vermont. In 1998, the Democrats held three of five governorships in those states, five of 10 U.S. Senate seats and 15 of 18 U.S. House seats -- a total edge in top offices of 23 Democrats to eight Republicans (and two independents) in the low-fertility states.
-- Robert Stacy McCain
REPUBLICANS: PRO-BABY
The states with the highest fertility rates are more likely to elect Republican officials than the states with the lowest fertility rates.*
HIGH FERTILITY STATES
State.................. Fertility.…GOV 98..... SEN 98............HOUSE 98
Utah....................2.65............. R............2 R, 0 D.............3 R, 0 D
Nevada...............2.41..............D............0 R, 2 D.............2 R, 0 D
Arizona................2.38............ R............2 R, 0 D.............5 R, 1 D
Alaska.................2.35.............D............2 R, 0 D.............1 R, 0 D
Texas.................. 2.32.............R............2 R, 0 D.......... 13 R, 17 D
TOTALS...........................3 R, 2 D.......8 R, 2 D...........24 R, 18 D
LOW FERTILITY STATES
State....................Fertility….GOV 98..... SEN 98............. HOUSE 98
Massachusetts…...1.66.......…..R.…........0 R, 2 D............0 R, 10 D
New Hampshire....1.65........…..D..…......2 R, 0 D............2 R, 0 D
West Virginia........1.63............ D........….0 R, 2 D............0 R, 3 D
Maine...................1.58..............I.........….2 R, 0 D............0 R, 2 D
Vermont..........…..1.58.............D.........…1 R, 1 D............0 R, 0 D, 1 I
TOTALS........................1 R, 3 D, 1 I....5 R, 5 D...........2 R, 15 D, 1 I
*Total fertility rate: Average lifetime births per woman at current fertility levels.
Sources: National Center for Health Statistics; 1998 Almanac of American Politics
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