As union voters shift their support toward Republicans, Democrats are becoming concerned that their once reliable voting block now might threaten President Joe Biden’s reelection bid.
Although Biden captured the union vote by a significant margin in 2020, recent polling indicates the self-proclaimed “most pro-union President” might have taken their support for granted, as his lead has plummeted to single digits. Democratic lawmakers have started to realize that their efforts to win over the union vote are “not translating into electoral support.” (RELATED: ‘USA’ Chants Erupt As Trump Makes Campaign Stop With Union Workers)
“We need to be concerned,” Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan told Axios. “We can’t just assume people are going to figure it out for themselves. We’ve got to tell the story.”
“Democrats have to recognize that this affiliation [with union leadership] … is not translating into electoral support,” Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, who challenged Biden in the 2024 presidential race, told Axios. “[Democrats] should be listening and finding ways to engage more with rank-and-file labor.”
The latest polling has indicated a shift in union support away from Democrats. In 2020, Biden outpaced Trump by 16 points, according to NBC’s exit polling. In Michigan alone, Biden led Trump among union voters by 25 points, according to ABC News’ 2020 exit polling.
Biden’s lead has plummeted to just nine points as of February, according to an NBC poll. A March Quinnipiac poll surveying Michigan voters also shows Biden leading by nine points. (RELATED: Union Manager Details Why Members Are ‘Fed Up’ With Biden Policies, Says Trump Has Chance)
Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, who serves as the vice chair of the congressional Labor Caucus, told Axios that union voters are a “skeptical audience.”
“This has been accelerating over the years … you’d be skeptical as a worker too,” Kaptur told Axios. “You’d want to listen [to Republicans].”
