The election results are a wake-up call for Democrats. This election wasn’t a fluke, it was a repudiation of a Democratic Party that many Americans clearly feel does not represent their interests. To return from the wilderness, Democrats need to reassess who they are and what they stand for. There will inevitably be calls for Democrats to pivot to the right after this election. However, exit polls indicate there’s a progressive position they should double down on: raising the minimum wage.
In exit polls, almost two-thirds of voters rated the economy as “not so good/poor,” and 69% of those who said the economy was bad voted for Donald Trump. In 2020, Biden won people making less than $50,000 by 10 points. This year, Trump didn’t just shrink that lead, he outright won the demographic by a point, 49%-48%. That’s the election.
