Working Class Weekly: An Initial Snapshot of Views of the Democratic Party
Welcome to Working Class Weekly -- our weekly post of new research on key topics from The Working Class Project
Last week, Mitch Landrieu wrote to you about how The Working Class Project is conducting qualitative and quantitative research and dozens of focus groups with self-identified “working class” voters across demographics. So far we have done focus groups in nine states, and additional online qualitative research across 11 states. The goal is to understand why these voters, over the past 15 years, have trended away the Democratic Party and helped fuel Donald Trump’s victories.
This week we’re going to show some initial impressions of the Democratic Party from the voters we have talked to.
But before we do, we want to give you a sense of why these voters consider themselves “working class.”
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ‘WORKING CLASS’?
These voters say they are always struggling to make ends meet, but find a way through their own hard work. They live paycheck-to-paycheck and can’t afford to take vacation.
They believe people above them economically don’t struggle the same way to make ends meet, while people below them often rely on government assistance.
Occupationally, however, they are expansive – “working class” can be factory workers, mechanics, and people who work with their hands or at a 9-to-5, as well as gig workers, teachers, nurses, and even “desk jobs” that are lower-paying but seen as primarily making big companies or other people rich. “Working class” is more defined by work ethic and drive, without commensurate compensation for it, than a job classification.
In our current economy, it’s easy to see how the “working class” covers a broad range of work, as an increasingly large share of Americans see the traditional “middle class,” much less being wealthy, as unattainable.
As we start sharing what we’ve been hearing, it’s important to remember what Mitch wrote last week about this project: “We think it’s important to be honest about our weaknesses. We think we have to properly diagnose the illness before we can begin treatment. And that means telling it like it is about what we’re hearing, even when it’s unpleasant.”
So what are these voters’ initial impressions of the Democratic Party?
QUICK TAKE » WORKING CLASS VOTERS SEE DEMOCRATS AS OUT OF TOUCH, INEFFECTIVE, & FOCUSED ON THE WRONG THINGS
Across the board, these voters have few positive things to say about the Democratic Party, consistent with public opinion polls that show Democrats’ favorability at historic lows. They say Democrats used to be the party fighting for the working class but now are weak, elite, out of touch, pandering, and focused on the wrong things. And they’re frustrated with Democrats’ insistence on political correctness, language policing, and virtue signaling.
Here is just some of what we’ve heard on key issues…
ON THE ECONOMY:
The working class voters we’ve heard from so far, which primarily but not exclusively voted for Trump, see Democrats as ineffective on the economy — and more focused on other issues than making their daily lives more affordable. They also don’t think Democrats understand that working people want to work and be able to afford a decent life. Instead, they say Democrats want to raise taxes to fund “handouts” or things that don’t help them economically, like foreign affairs or social issues.
“[Democrats] don't understand that people want to work, for the most part, they want to provide for themselves. They don't want the government to take everything they earn. They don't want to subsidize the lazy that don't feel like working. They don't want to subsidize other countries in perpetuity. They don't want DEI; people want the positions they earned through their hard work, not to be told they can't have it based on the shade of their skin, or that they got a position based on the shade of their skin.” – 43-year-old white man from Michigan
“Those of us who don’t depend on government assistance don’t look at Democrats the same way as those who do.” – Black man from North Carolina
“There should be less government involvement with everything people do. I think people rely too much on the government for everything and I think that's how you create a dependent population.” – 34-year-old Black woman from Wisconsin
“The Democrats only have a ‘fighting’ spirit when they are not in office. Once in office, they cater to everyone but the American people. They had 4 years to boost the economy but decided to have us fund 2 wars (that we know of) instead.” – 47-year-old Black woman from Georgia
“I really heavily disagree with foreign wars and us getting involved. I think Democrats in general are losing their way on what should be obvious common-sense problems. Such as illegal immigration, woke ideology policies, and being against wasted spending.” – 33-year-old white man from Arizona
ON SOCIAL & CULTURAL ISSUES:
Overwhelmingly, they think Democrats are too focused on liberal social issues, like “woke” social values, instead of economic issues.
“Unfortunately, compared to the past, I think Democrats are more concerned about social progressive issues more than economic issues. Democrats only seem to be concerned with woke issues currently.” – 33-year-old white man from Arizona
“They should be more focused on core issues. A lot of them run after fringe issues like trans issues. I don’t care. Finish issues that impact more people. Then we can deal with the smaller things.” – Asian American man from Georgia
“[The Democratic Party] aligns with what’s popular, inclusion, but at my age I don’t care if I’m included. I want to make enough money.” – Black man from North Carolina
Working class voters repeatedly expressed frustrations with Democrats pushing social issues on them, particularly around transgender topics. Even when they are tolerant and accepting, these voters see Democrats as looking down on them or vilifying them if they don’t wholeheartedly embrace an agenda they don’t understand and often can’t even articulate.
A 55-year-old white man from Nevada summed up a sentiment we’ve heard over and over again: “They won't let you speak your mind, and if you speak of something they disagree with, they immediately dismiss you. Not being able to speak freely is the exact opposite of what America should be.”
“I think a lot of Democrats claim that they are the party of inclusivity. We include everyone. We are very woke. But the moment that you disagree with the Democrat, even if you agree with them on 80 to 90% of issues, if you disagree on one issue, they attack you, they try to cancel you. You are kicked out of the club unless you are 100% in alignment. And I don't think that's very inclusive.” – 38-year-old Latina woman from Arizona
ON IMMIGRATION:
They say Democrats do not understand the significance of the problems facing the country. Even when they criticize Trump’s approach on immigration, they see him as at least addressing the issue, whereas Democrats did nothing while the problem got worse.
“My parents took years and years to come here. I voted for Biden… Now, you give people asylum, you legalize them, you give them a work permit. That’s why there’s so much burden on the market. They give so much asylum to the South Americans. Trump cancelled that. That’s a good move.” – Asian American man from Georgia
“Right now it’s rough out there, we’re in the painful section of things – you feel bad for people complaining about the tariffs and the undocumented people who need to go back home, but things have to change and get better.” – White woman from North Carolina
“They use the Latino vote to get into power, and then here we are, two years later, and there still isn’t immigration reform... It’s so heartbreaking because I believed them and used to canvas for them. But they fully ignore us.” – Latina woman from Colorado
ODDS & ENDS:
TOO TRUMP CENTRIC: They believe Democrats have become too defined by opposition to Trump, as opposed to standing for anything themselves or pushing any ideas that will make their lives better.
OLD: They say Democrats are too old and “geriatric,” and use archaic tactics, like the “protests” seen at Trump’s State of the Union speech.
WHAT IT ALL MEANS
Democrats clearly have a lot of work to do to gain the trust of working class voters. The hole is deep. The Democratic brand is in the tank with many of the very voters Democrats claim to be fighting for. These voters doubt Democrats really care about fighting for them, and they cannot name any deliverables Democrats have done for them.
Obviously, Trump is providing opportunities to draw clear contrasts with his proposed cuts to Medicaid and Social Security, as well as his across-the-board tariffs. But Trump’s brand is much stronger among these voters than Democrats’. In the coming weeks, we will share more data and information on how these voters are viewing Trump, the GOP, and what they’ve done in Trump’s first 100 days.
And as this project continues, we will share analysis and recommendations for what Democrats can do to change these perceptions and win working class voters again.
 | A guest post by
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I am curious why there is never a follow up to the woke issues answer to ask how they define woke issues. We can’t address the issue by guessing at what they mean. And I don’t think abandoning the value that marginalized people deserve a seat at the table is the answer. and that those same people who “don’t rely on government handouts” definitely are through subsidies and tax credits they aren’t accounting for. The IIJA had JOBS in the title. And the CHIPS and inflation reduction act both included jobs as well. We are allowing these working class folks to hold unchecked opinions that we are expected to bend our messaging to but not holding them accountable to know what they actually want.
I fully agree that holding “we aren’t the party of trump” as the main messaging is nonsense though.
Credit to you guys, as far as I’m aware you are the only people asking the hard questions about how to move the party back to the working class.
But I have to say - how are you going to break the addiction to oligarch money and corporate money? Unless you can do that, even genuine working class candidates are going to get stabbed in the back by the DNC in the primaries or just lawfared out before they can even get in to a primary.