PPI's Progress Report: Who Makes Up the Working Class? Neither Party Seems To Know

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Progress Report

News, events, and must-read analysis from the Progressive Policy Institute.

Who Makes Up the Working Class? Neither Party Seems To Know

By Ed Gresser and Taylor Maag
VP & Director for Trade & Global Markets and Director of Workforce Policy
for Newsweek

With just over 30 weeks left before the 2024 election, Democrats are debating which voters to put at the center of their summer and fall efforts. Some want to focus on young people, others on college-educated voters. Many in the party want to focus outreach on non-college and blue-collar workers—a group with whom Democrats haven't fared very well in recent years.

The last group has a very good point. But they (and media covering their debates) need to start with a realistic appreciation of who America's working class is, and what workers hope to see this year. In both parties, politicians often seem to be talking past much of America's working class—that is, the service workers who make up a large majority of it—and missing their aspirations. Appealing to them, as well as to manufacturing and construction workers, offers Democrats a chance to cement a winning coalition.

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Staff Spotlight: Amelia Fox

Amelia Fox
National Press Secretary
Amelia Fox is the National Press Secretary at the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI). Prior to joining PPI, Amelia was the Press Secretary for Cheri Beasley during the 2022 North Carolina Senate race. Amelia also worked on the communications team in Senator Manchin's office in 2021 and on the 2020 North Carolina Senate race.

Amelia is from North Carolina, and graduated with a B.A. in Strategic Communications and Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Go Heels!

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