Loss of Working-Class Voters
In their book “Where Have All the Democrats Gone?: The Soul of the Party in the Age of Extremes,” Judis and Teixeira argue that the Democratic Party has steadily lost the allegiance of “everyday Americans” – the working- and middle-class voters that were at the core of the older New Deal coalition. Initially, most of these voters were white, but in recent years, Democrats have also begun to lose support among Latino and Asian working-class voters. Democrats continued to enjoy huge margins among black voters, but even those margins declined in 2020 and 2022.
The Changing Political Landscape
Part of the reason for this shift, according to Judis and Teixeira, is the changing political landscape in the era of extremism, as well as the left’s embrace of what conservatives would describe as woke politics. They argue that a defection of working-class voters has been happening in the last decade, which was not anticipated when they wrote “The Emerging Democratic Majority.” The loss of working-class voters, who constitute the majority of the electorate, could undermine Democrats’ chances of being the majority party and being competitive with the Republican Party.
Exploiting Democratic Weaknesses
In a recent interview with Time magazine, Teixeira explained how Trump found a way to exploit the weaknesses of the Democratic Party among non-white, working-class Americans. Trump’s ability to capitalize on these weaknesses is still benefiting him in the 2024 presidential election, where he remains the commanding frontrunner. Teixeira emphasized that the weaknesses of Democrats among non-white voters, particularly Hispanic and Black working-class voters, are significant. He believes that Democrats are invested in cultural issues and worried about blowback from social media and college-educated “liberalish” voters who are a loyal base for the party. Meanwhile, Trump understands and continues to play upon these divisions, which the Democrats remain oblivious to.
The Alarm Bell
Judis and Teixeira are not the only ones sounding the alarm about the troubles facing the Democratic Party. Bernie Sanders, during a speech at Saint Anselm College in August, urged Democrats to focus on economic issues or risk losing the 2024 election. Sanders highlighted the worrying trend of losing support within Latino communities and even among African American men, emphasizing the need for change not just for the well-being of the party but for the future of the country.
Narrowing Support
A Times/Siena Poll conducted in July showed that Biden’s lead over Trump among non-white, non-college educated voters was only 16 points, indicating a narrowing of support for the Democratic Party among this demographic.
