White blue-collar voters, who were crucial to Donald Trump's election victories in 2016 and 2024, are increasingly turning against him. A recent CBS News poll reveals that 54% of white voters without a college degree disapprove of Trump's performance, up from 45% in February and sharply higher than 32% in February 2025. This erosion of support within a key demographic threatens Republican prospects in the upcoming November midterm elections.
Broken Promises Fuel Discontent
Trump courted blue-collar voters by pledging to curb immigration, lower prices on day one, revive manufacturing jobs, and avoid new foreign wars. However, many now feel he has failed on all fronts except immigration enforcement, which has itself become controversial after incidents like the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by masked agents in Minneapolis. Instead of lower prices, voters face 4.2% inflation, the highest in three years. Manufacturing jobs have declined by 68,000 since Trump returned to office, and his war against Iran has driven up gasoline and grocery prices, angering many working-class Americans.
Voices from the Base
Peggy Liff, a 57-year-old welder in Ohio who voted for Trump three times, expressed her frustration to the Washington Post: “He’s concentrating on other things, like overseas, Iran. He says he’s doing it for us, but I don’t see where that’s happening.” Such sentiments reflect a broader disillusionment that extends beyond white blue-collar workers to include many working-class African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans, who are upset about the war, soaring gas prices, and a 32% increase in tomato prices, 17% in coffee, and 13% in beef over the past year.
Economic Policies Under Fire
Trump's tariffs have raised prices on furniture, coffee, and fresh fruit, while his tax cuts for the ultra-rich and cuts to Medicaid and food assistance by over $1 trillion have hit working-class families hard. A New York Times headline captured the mood: “Wages Are Falling. Wealth Is Surging. No Wonder Americans Are Unhappy.” The same week Elon Musk became the world’s first trillionaire, a Bureau of Labor Statistics report showed that surging energy prices had erased 18 months of wage gains for the average worker. Trump's actions to weaken labor unions and his letting Musk slash federal agencies have further alienated blue-collar voters.
Polling Shows Steep Decline
According to a recent Fox News poll, only 33% of white blue-collar voters approve of Trump's handling of the economy, and just 25% approve of his handling of inflation. An NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll found that 44% of white voters without a college degree said they were more likely to vote for a Democratic congressional candidate this year, up from 30% before the 2018 midterms. Republican pollster John McLaughlin noted, “It’s working-class voters who are not happy with the Republican party, and they may not come out and vote.”
Democrats Must Offer Solutions
Trump's insensitive comments, such as saying “I love the inflation” and “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation,” have provided ammunition for Democratic campaign ads. However, experts argue that Democrats need to go beyond attacking Trump and present ideas that excite working-class Americans. Proposals include new taxes on billionaires to fund affordable childcare, an excess profits tax on oil companies to subsidize gas, and $20,000 down-payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. As Trump's base sours, Democrats have a significant opportunity to regain working-class support and improve their midterm chances.
