While I really like the writings of Charles Blow, he is promoting a false dichotomy. Blow’s argument is that Republicans are focused on crime and economic issues while Democrats are focusing on principles like abortion, climate change, gun control, police reform, gender issues, civil rights, and even democracy. The dichotomy is false. All these issues are both economic and social.
Being forced to have a child, feed, cloth, and educate it is economic. Likewise, "voting rights, transgender issues, gun control, police reform, civil rights, climate change or the protection of our democracy itself" are economic issues when we look beyond the bumper sticker comments. Look at Russian or China if you don't think democracy is an economic issue. Gender issues certainly are. Global warming and pollution have extreme economic consequences for generations to come.
On the other side we have crime and the inflation. On these issues, Republicans merely complain they exist. No realistic proposals on how to deal with them. Why? Because to do so would drag in "principles." Principles like extreme inequality and how to deal with it. Minimum wages? Fair tax plans? No, just point to the price on the gas pump.
As for crime, what reforms do police departments need to improve efficacy and fairness? And what about corporate and white collar crime? Why do they get lighter sentences than blue collar crimes that cause less damage?
All issues are both economic and involve principles. They impact our economic welfare and their solutions are based on which principles we choose to live by.