Kevin McCarthy, R-Alabama? Marriage act vote reflects GOP’s irrelevance in California

Americans by large numbers support people of different races getting married. A large majority back same-sex marriages as well.

So when half of California’s Republican congressional representatives voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which codifies interracial and same-sex marriages into federal law, the question becomes: Do those politicians represent California, or Alabama?

Blazing the way with his no vote was Kevin McCarthy, the GOP leader in the House who is from Bakersfield and now represents Clovis and parts of Fresno County. Joining him were Connie Conway of Tulare, who is covering the remainder of Devin Nunes’ last term; Tom McClintock, the Sacramento-area congressman whose new district takes in a part of north Fresno; Doug LaMalfa, a Butte County representative; and two legislators from Southern California.

In Alabama, all of the lawmakers save one are Republican. And only the lone Democrat from that state voted for the act.

Nationally, 94% of Americans support marriages between people of differing races, according to Gallup. When it comes to same-sex unions, 71% of Americans back them, Gallup reports. In both instances, American attitudes have developed over recent decades from strong opposition to widespread acceptance.

A poll done in 2013 of Californians’ attitudes toward same-sex marriages found then that 61% approved, a number that is certainly higher today.

Republican districts

So how to explain the votes of McCarthy, et al?

Opinion

One answer would be that they represent safe districts with GOP majorities in party registration. It is notable that Republican David Valadao of Hanford, whose Kings County-Kern County-Tulare County district is majority Democratic, voted for the Respect for Marriage Act. Four other California GOP members joined him.

Another reason for the no votes by McCarthy and the others could be evangelical church members in their communities. Gallup notes that support for same-sex unions is lowest among people who attend church at least once a week.

That noted, the majority of the GOP became supportive of same-sex marriage last year, Gallup said.

Against the tide

Being out of step with the majority view on social issues is nothing new for the GOP in California. It is why Democrats have a “trifecta” of power in the state, occupying the governorship and supermajorities in the state Senate and Assembly.

Joe Garofoli, the politics reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, puts the votes on the marriage act it this way: “California Republicans simply cannot stop repaving their road to irrelevance.”

Jim Patterson, Fresno’s Republican Assemblymember, often complains about “the ruling party in Sacramento.” But as the polls show, the tide of public opinion is running strongly against the GOP in California — and nationally, when it comes to interracial marriages and same-sex ones.

Fifty-six percent of the population in Kern County is Hispanic. In Tulare County, the Latino population is 66%; in Fresno County, Latinos are 54.7%. Without question, Hispanic people are married to others of different races.

According to Equality California, census data from 2020 show that there are 5.25 same-sex couples per 1,000 households in Fresno County. In Kern County, the number is 4.61 per 1,000; in Tulare, it is 4.12 same-sex per 1,000.

Interracial marriages have been occurring for decades, and America has not gone to ruin. In fact, such unions have very well made the nation better. That is true for same-sex marriages as well.

If Republicans like McCarthy really do believe in the value of personal freedom, they should have supported the Respect for Marriage Act and allowed people to make their own decisions.

The no votes of the six California Republicans says interracial and same-sex marriages are not acceptable. That is hard to fathom.

Fortunately, the act has passed both the House and the Senate — with some GOP backing in both — and awaits President Biden’s signature.

So, opposition by McCarthy and the others really was irrelevant.