Protests reflect partisan divide, not local numbers

Over the past few weeks, I have heard concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) impending presence in McCook from both sides of the aisle. Some oppose federal immigration policy in general; others support ICE enforcement at the border but see no need to bring the problem here.

The protests following last week’s parade, however, were strictly partisan. The people I spoke with were either Nebraska Democratic Party members from elsewhere or local folks I personally know to be Democrats. Turnout was modest compared to the governor’s last visit, and with half the crowd brought in from elsewhere, I was reminded how isolating it must feel to be a Democrat in Southwest Nebraska. We know that they are a political minority — but by what margin?

I haven’t worked on a campaign in years, and it’s been nearly two decades since I had reason to look at a voter file, so I decided that it was time for me to revisit my understanding of party affiliations in our county and region.

What I found was not terribly surprising. I have often described McCook as a splash of purple in a sea of red. It’s as historically accurate as it is poetic, but if we were to cling to our ideological color analogy today, the actual color would be closer to scarlet.

According to the Nebraska Secretary of State, as of October 1, 2024, Red Willow County had 4,925 registered Republicans and 833 Democrats, a ratio of about 5.9 to 1. Even so, the county can appear to be a haven for liberals when compared to its neighbors. Harlan stands at 5.5 to 1, Furnas 6.1, Phelps 6.5, Hitchcock 7.4, Chase 8.4, Frontier 8.6, Dundy 10.8, and Hayes the highest at 20 to 1.

For perspective, Custer’s 210 soldiers at the Little Bighorn faced 1,500 to 2,000 Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors, a ratio of roughly 1 to 8 or 1 to 10. By comparison, Democrats in Hayes County are outnumbered at roughly twice that ratio. Unlike Custer, of course, their situation is political, not mortal.

What about independents? Could they tilt the balance? In Hayes County, only 9.6 percent of voters are unaffiliated. The percentage grows from there: Frontier 12.3, Dundy 12.7, Phelps 12.9, Chase 13.0, Hitchcock 14.1, Furnas 15.2, and Red Willow the highest in the region at 16.6 percent.

Even if every independent (nonpartisan) aligned with Democrats — an unlikely outcome — their combined total in Red Willow County would reach only about 2,000, or 28.4 percent of the county’s 7,042 registered voters. Republicans at 4,925 registrations still exceed that bloc by nearly 2.5 to 1.

The conclusion is clear. Even with independents added, McCook remains a lonely place for left-leaning partisans. So, was it somehow wrong for them to invite friends from the east? No. It’s a state and national issue, and even bolstered by visitors, they pose no threat, political or otherwise. Our visitors were welcomed–and they are invited to visit again. Perhaps next time, they’ll stay for dinner and do some shopping on Norris Avenue.