A shift in American politics has been taking place, but it’s been somewhat under the radar since Democrats are still considered the party of the working man.
According to Marcy Kaptur, Democratic Representative from Ohio, nine of the ten wealthiest congressional districts are represented by Democrats. However, the GOP represents the majority of the country’s poorer half, according to data on median income.
Bruce Mehlman, a lobbyist and political analyst, stated that the Republicans were the party to the country club and are becoming the party of the country.
Democrats have focused their efforts on the professional class, college-educated women, minorities, and the educated young. Axios’ Dave Wasserman, Cook Political Report’s chief political analyst, said that there has been an inversion between Republican and Democratic shares of the highest-income and lowest-income areas and the highest and most college-educated districts.
The numbers in 64% of the congressional districts where the median income is below the national average are represented now by Republicans. This shows a shift in historical party demographics.
Although some of the most wealthy districts in the country have voted Democrat for many years, growing inequality is making it harder for them to vote Democrat.
Wasserman stated that “Increasingly, the Democratic caucus districts don’t reflect the middle-income areas where the House is won or lost.”
Zoom in: Democrats remain competitive and have retained a number of swingy, middle-income districts, including Kaptur’s Ohio. She is one of five House Democrats who represent districts that Trump won.
How is that possible? Democrats have a misguided sense of the needs of middle- and lower-income voters. This is before they get government goodies and before they are told who is a man and who is a woman and which bathroom they should use.
A Kaptur aide said to Axios that “it’s one way for him to highlight… the fact that there are still some districts, especially in middle America, that aren’t feeling the benefits of all the policies in effect.” It is clear that there is still much to be done in order to lift these communities.
Kaptur sees another interpretation. “How is it possible that Republicans represent the majority of people who struggle?” Kaptur told Insider.
There are many lines between the lines: Experts point out that education is a stronger indicator than the income of party affiliation.
“I believe income is a result of geography and education. Mehlman stated that voters with college degrees earn higher salaries and live in areas where homes are more expensive, which is why they tend to be more Democratic.”
Kaptur squirms about the GOP’s attraction to blue-collar, “struggling” voters. This is a clear indication. If you are economically poor, where mothers worry about whether they will have enough food for the next month, you won’t care about abortion or the “wage gap” or any other issues Democrats claim the struggling class should be concerned about. They care about their community’s safety. They hope politicians won’t ruin the economy or make it worse, as Biden did with the inflation.
Trump won these voters, and invoking a historic realignment that would make America great again and give Americans security again, he made America great again. Until Democrats can figure this out, they will have to continue catering to the wealthy.
