Urban Conservatives: A New Radical Archetype Emerges on the American Right

A new political archetype, dubbed the "citycon," is gaining prominence within the American New Right, representing disaffected conservatives in blue-state metropolitan areas whose experiences with urban issues are shaping a more radical political stance. This emerging demographic stands in sharp contrast to the traditional "ruralcon," the long-dominant rural conservative. The shift highlights a deepening ideological divide within the conservative movement, driven by differing perceptions of societal challenges, particularly concerning law and order, mass immigration, and crime.

For decades, the American Right has been largely defined by the image of the "rural conservative," or "ruralcon," characterized by a "pickup-driving, small-town patriot with deep roots in red-state soil," as described by Jack Poso in a recent social media post. This archetype typically resides in areas where crime and immigration are perceived as abstract national issues, reinforcing a belief that "America is still salvageable without drastic change." Their support for Republican policies, law enforcement, and national symbols remains steadfast.

However, the "citycon" operates from a fundamentally different reality. According to Poso, this urban conservative has directly witnessed "tent cities, the open-air drug markets, the unchecked shoplifting, and the revolving-door justice system." Their daily lives are impacted by "waves of illegal immigration and Section 8 hordes transform[ing] entire neighborhoods in real time." This direct exposure to what they perceive as societal decay, coupled with experiences of "DA’s offices that won’t prosecute violent offenders, police departments demoralized and defunded, and local media gaslighting him about what his own eyes see," fuels a profound sense of urgency.

For the "citycon," these are not mere policy debates but matters of "survival," leading to a demand for "harsher penalties for criminals, zero tolerance for illegal entry, and a willingness to challenge sacred cows about policing and public order." This perspective contributes to a harder edge within the New Right, emphasizing direct action and uncompromising solutions to issues that feel immediate and existential. This aligns with the broader evolution of the New Right, which has increasingly focused on social and cultural issues to mobilize a populist base.

The tweet further notes that "it is no accident that the MAGA Movement was born on a golden escalator on 5th Avenue by a New York City billionaire," implicitly linking former President Donald Trump, an urban figure, to this urban-rooted conservative sentiment. This suggests that the lived experiences of "citycons" resonate strongly with a political movement that promises to directly confront perceived urban decline and challenge established norms. While the "ruralcon defends an America that still exists in his county," the "citycon fights for an America that has already been stolen in his zip code," underscoring the divergent motivations shaping the modern conservative landscape.