Can Economic Populism Save the Democratic Party?

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Oct 24, 2025

Jared Abbott, Director of the Center for Working-Class Politics, dives into why the Democratic Party struggles with working-class voters. He reveals the alarming 'Democratic penalty' impacting elections in the Rust Belt. Abbott discusses the need for Democrats to reconnect with their economic populist roots and adapt their messaging to local concerns. They explore how the party's shift toward cultural issues has alienated many voters and suggest a focus on policies like wage increases and union rights to regain trust. Insights on successful grassroots strategies round out this timely conversation.

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INSIGHT

Democratic Label Carries A Penalty

Identical economic-populist candidates polled 10–15 points better when labeled independent versus Democratic in Rust Belt states.
The "D" functions as an electoral albatross in Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin for working-class voters.

INSIGHT

Perceived Incompetence Outweighs Culture Critiques

Voters' top complaints about Democrats center on perceived incompetence and failure to deliver, not only culture-war grievances.
Messaging should therefore tackle credibility and results, not only cultural alignment.

ADVICE

Let Candidates Experiment Locally

Allow local Democratic candidates to deviate on cultural issues when necessary to match their districts' preferences.
Experiment with different populist approaches district-by-district to learn what wins.

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The “Democratic penalty” should scare the hell out of Democrats.

The Democratic Party brand has become toxic in certain parts of the country, especially with working- class voters. The Center for Working-Class Politics has actually measured this so-called “Democratic penalty,” and found it’s in the double digits in some Rust Belt states.

So what should Democrats do about it?

One theory says that Democrats were once economic populists and just need to be again. Another theory says that the working class feels left behind and looked down on by a Democratic Party that has moved sharply left on culture, on climate, on guns, on immigration.

Jared Abbott is the director of the Center for Working-Class Politics, which has done a lot of research and polling on working- class voters. So I asked him on the show to talk through these theories and what it would take for Democrats to once again be the party of the working class.

Mentioned:

“Compensate the Losers?” Economic Policy and Partisan Realignment in the US

“Representation Gaps: Changes in Popular Preferences and the Structure of Partisan Competition in the Developed Democracies” by Peter A. Hall and Georgina Evans

Book Recommendations:

Rust Belt Union Blues by Lainey Newman and Theda Skocpol

We’re Still Here by Jennifer M. Silva

America, América by Greg Grandin

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.

You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.

This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Rollin Hu. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Isaac Jones. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show’s production team also includes Marie Cascione, Annie Galvin, Kristin Lin, Emma Kehlbeck, Jack McCordick, Marina King and Jan Kobal. Original music by Aman Sahota and Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser.

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