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Democrats win back key voting bloc they lost in 2024



In 2024, Democrats reversed generations of elections as the party of the
working class and ceded the title to Donald Trump. Inexplicably, shockingly,
distressingly, Trump won voters making less than $50,000, while Democrat Kamala
Harris carried those earning more than $100,000, according to exit polls.

Trump promised big things—chief among them lowering prices “on Day One.” Not
only has he failed to deliver since taking office, he also hasn’t even bothered
trying. His policies have instead fueled inflation: tariffs driving up costs,
and mass deportations shrinking the cheap labor supply.

Then Zohran Mamdani shocked the political establishment, coming from nowhere
to win New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary on a platform laser-focused
on soaring living costs. Then this past Tuesday, he handily won the general
election, too.

The lesson from Mamdani’s success is simple: Voters care most about how their
vote will improve their financial health. Nothing else comes close. That’s how
Trump managed to get 46% of Latinos to vote for him despite his open bigotry.
Many were willing to stomach a racist in the White House if it meant a better
shot at feeding their families. It sounds harsh, but worrying about climate
change, trans rights, abortion rights, or immigration—all of which I fiercely
support—is something of a privilege for those not consumed by the daily
struggle of making rent or affording groceries.





 



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A candidate focusing their campaign on anything beyond a core economic message
can be a liability. Even democracy itself doesn’t sway people when they’re
struggling to survive—I’ve seen it firsthand in my native El Salvador. Hell,
they’ll happily trade their civil liberties for economic security.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Democrats shouldn’t fight for those causes. It
means only that they shouldn’t campaign on them. A politician’s first job is to
win elections. So talk about what voters actually want: a reason to vote. The
answer must always be “A better life for you and your family.”

Trump promised that. He hasn’t delivered. And now he’s paying the price—both
in the polls and at the ballot box.



Last year, Trump made New Jersey competitive, losing by just 6 percentage
points—a 10-point improvement over his 2020 margin. Some of his biggest gains
came in Latino-heavy, working-class areas.

But if New Jersey’s results on Tuesday are any indication, that flirtation
with Trump may be over. According to exit polls, Democratic Gov.-elect Mikie
Sherrill won 68% of Latino voters and 71% of voters making less than $50,000 a
year. She also carried 54% of those making more than $100,000. This is how it
should be: Democrats winning everyone but billionaire assholes.

Virginia wasn’t much different. Democratic Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger won
67% of Latinos and 63% of the under-$50,000 crowd, while retaining 56% of those
making more than $100,000.




 



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Trump lied about lowering prices. He lied about caring. He never gave a damn
about anyone outside of his gilded circle. There are White Houses to demolish
and ballrooms to build. Why would he care whether the yokels he’s always
despised can afford dinner?

Tuesday’s elections suggest Republicans may be in deep trouble. Their gains
with the working class are going up in smoke, even as Democrats hold onto
wealthier, educated voters. And even farm country might be trending away from
the GOP.

New Jersey doesn’t have much rural territory left, but Virginia does. Outgoing
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin won 63% of rural and small-city voters in 2021,
according to exit polls. Spanberger just won 54% of them. And if you’re
wondering whether those numbers were skewed by Republicans’ train wreck of a
nominee, they weren’t. The lieutenant governor’s race shows the same pattern:
The Republican won 56% of rural Virginia this year, but in 2021, they won 62%.

If even farm country is turning, another year of tariff pain and White House
dysfunction could strip Republicans of one of the last voting blocs they
thought was safe.



Click here to check out this story on DailyKos.com.
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