# Democrats who win working-class voters share their secrets > State legislators from battleground states reveal what works and what doesn't when reaching working-class Americans. - Title: Democrats who win working-class voters share their secrets - Summary: State legislators from battleground states reveal what works and what doesn't when reaching working-class Americans. Working-class voters respond to… - Keywords: democrats, working-class voters, state legislators, robin johnson, progressive policy institute, battleground states, trump, 2024 election, economic issues, cultural issues, campaign strategy, political consulting - Source: Vox — https://vox.com/politics/503064/ppi-report-working-class-democrats-state-legislators - Author: Andrew Prokop - Published: 2026-09-17T10:30:00+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: democrats, working-class voters, state legislators, robin johnson, progressive policy institute, battleground states, trump, 2024 election, economic issues, cultural issues, campaign strategy, political consulting ## Why ask winners for advice Democrats keep worrying about winning working-class voters. Robin Johnson decided to interview the Democrats who actually do it. ## A decade-long research project Johnson, a rural Illinois consultant, has been interviewing state legislators who win tough districts since Trump's first victory in 2016. ## 28 legislators from swing states The new report covers 28 state legislators who won heavily working-class areas in the seven main presidential battleground states. ## Meet the unlikely winners They include a retired union electrician, a construction business owner, a five-time college dropout with tattoos, and a former circus clown. ## Not the socialist wing These lawmakers differ sharply from the left-wing populists who've captured national media attention, the report's authors say. > could hardly be more different from the left-wing populists who've captivated the national media this summer ## Common themes across regions From rural Georgia to the Arizona border to Las Vegas and the Blue Wall states, the challenges and themes are remarkably similar. > It's really interesting how common the themes and the challenges are from rural Georgia, right down to the border of Arizona, to Las Vegas ## Identity politics takes a backseat Unlike past reports, this one included Black and Latino legislators. But none of them brought up their own identity in interviews. > Nobody brought up their identity in these interviews ## No secret sauce needed These legislators are deeply rooted in their communities, know the people and language, and work hard. That's the formula. > There's no secret sauce. They're deeply rooted in their communities, they know the people that live there, they know the language, they work hard ## Real people, not Frankenstein candidates The legislators come from varied backgrounds. You don't need consultants creating the perfect candidate, Johnson says. They already exist. ## The big shift since 2024 Nevada's Elaine Marzola says her campaign moved away from leading with social issues to focus on affordability and economic concerns instead. > My campaign's biggest adjustment in 2024 was shifting away from leading with social and cultural issues ## Voters want affordability, not culture wars Marzola says voters across backgrounds increasingly want leaders focused on affordability, education, and safety rather than culture war debates. > voters across backgrounds increasingly want leaders focused on affordability, education, and public safety rather than endless culture war debates ## The litmus test problem Many legislators complained about groups demanding 100 percent allegiance. You can agree on nine out of 10 issues, but one disagreement makes you an enemy. > you can vote with them on nine out of 10 issues, but on the tenth issue, if you're not with them, you're an enemy ## Room for regional differences In the Bible Belt, older African Americans are more conservative on cultural issues. Legislators need room to vote their districts while staying unified on economics. ## Economic unity, different approaches All focus on affordability, but some take populist approaches while others are business-friendly. Most describe themselves as moderate. ## Deep roots beat viral moments These legislators still get hit on national issues, but their deep community roots help them overcome attacks better than any pithy social media slogan. > It's really not. For these folks anyway, it just comes down to doing the hard work ## The Democratic bench for tomorrow These state legislators have proven they can win tough districts. They're the bench Democrats need for future congressional and statewide races. > this is the bench that the Democrats need ## Key takeaway Working-class voters respond to candidates who focus on economic issues, know their communities deeply, and avoid getting pulled into culture war debates.