Neither Democrats Nor Republicans Have Won Over the Working Class. A New Poll Shows Deep Distrust of Both Parties.

Working-class voters have become one of the most fiercely contested groups in American politics, but a new survey suggests neither Republicans nor Democrats have convinced them that their promises are genuine.

According to new results from The POLITICO Poll, 55% of Americans believe politicians who say they want to help the working class are primarily trying to win votes. The skepticism crosses political lines, with majorities of voters who backed President Donald Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris sharing that view.

Among Americans who identify as working class, only one in four believe politicians genuinely want to help people like them. The findings show the challenge facing both parties ahead of the November midterm elections, when control of Congress will be at stake, and economic concerns are expected to play a central role.

Neither party has established a decisive advantage with working-class Americans. The poll found 38% of those voters believe Democrats best represent their interests, compared with 32% who chose Republicans. Among Americans overall, 37% said Democrats better represent the working class, while 30% favored Republicans.

For Democrats, those numbers come amid an internal debate over how to reconnect with voters who have moved toward the GOP as the Democratic coalition has become increasingly reliant on college-educated Americans.

"We've struggled with the working class for quite a while and it's been a combination of being out of touch with working class values on a lot of culture issues and being seen as either not helpful or not helpful enough on economic issues," Jim Kessler, executive vice president for policy at the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way, told the outlet.

Progressives argue their economic agenda offers a stronger route back. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., told POLITICO that progressives are "speaking to the needs of working families," pointing to issues including universal health care.

Republicans face a different problem: preserving the working-class gains Trump made in the 2024 election, particularly among Black and Latino voters who were frustrated by the economy under former President Joe Biden.

The poll also highlights how difficult it is to define the constituency both parties are trying to win. When respondents were simply asked whether "working class" described them, 59% said yes and 31% said no. But when asked to choose among labels including wealthy, middle class, lower middle class, working class and poor, just 16% selected working class.

That discrepancy suggests "working class" functions as something broader than a traditional income category for many Americans, potentially encompassing people who depend on a paycheck regardless of occupation or education.

The economic picture could create particular challenges for Republicans. According to the POLITICO survey, 35% of self-identified working-class Americans said Trump is fully responsible for the current economy. Half said the president has spent too much time focused on international affairs rather than domestic issues, while many said the ongoing war in Iran has made life more expensive.

Both parties are already trying to demonstrate working-class credentials ahead of November. Vice President JD Vance recently returned to Middletown, Ohio, and spoke at the steel plant where his grandfather worked. In Georgia, Republican Senate nominee Rep. Mike Collins frequently highlights his background as a trucker.

Democrats are similarly fielding candidates with blue-collar biographies, including union leader and former smokejumper Sam Forstag in Montana and firefighter union chief Bob Brooks in Pennsylvania.