In case you missed it, yesterday the New York Times published an Op Ed by Timothy Shenk titled: “Democrats are in Crisis. Eat-the-Rich Populism is the Only Answer.”
The essay features some of our research, including the following quote that can’t be stressed enough:
According to a study from the left-leaning Center for Working-Class Politics and Jacobin, almost a tenth of Mr. Trump’s supporters in 2020 were “essentially ‘Bernie Bros’”: blue-collar, culturally moderate, economic progressives. Those numbers were presumably even higher in 2024, when more of these voters either shifted to Mr. Trump or sat out the election. If Democrats want to make up their losses, they need to win these voters back.
Correct.
Moreover, Shenk approvingly cites Dan Osborn’s campaign for U.S. Senate as an example of the kind of independent working-class populism that could win blue-collar voters back from Trump’s GOP. Correct again. And now we have yet more evidence to prove it.
In a sense, our latest research looks at whether, and to what extent, Osborn-style populism has a future. In collaboration with the Labor Institute, Rutgers University’s Labor Education Action Research Network (LEARN), and YouGov, we designed and fielded a survey of 3,000 Rust Belt voters. We asked them a battery of questions to gauge their perceptions of the Democratic Party, which economic policies they preferred, and their attitudes toward independent populist politics.
Tonight, we will debut the results of that survey at a launch event titled: “Should Working-Class Politics Move Beyond the Democratic Party?”
The event will feature opening remarks by Shawn Fain, President of the UAW and preview the latest findings from our forthcoming report: “Democrats’ Rust Belt Struggles and the Promise of Independent Politics.”
Please join us and share event details with your networks.
Should Working-Class Politics Move Beyond the Democratic Party?
Featuring UAW President Shawn Fain
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT
After you register, please help us spread the word to friends, co-workers, and anyone who might be interested.
The report will be made available shortly after the event. If you want it emailed directly to you, make sure you subscribe.