As results came in Tuesday night and a Democratic wave took shape, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain cautioned that the party’s midterm wins do not mean working-class voters are certain to support Democrats in 2028.
At the Michigan Democratic Party’s election night gathering, Fain said workers tend to back candidates who show they are willing to fight for their concerns, rather than sticking with a particular party. He said politicians should take the results as a warning and pay closer attention to workers’ needs.
Fain pointed to large corporate buybacks and Wall Street deals, saying many workers still struggle to afford everyday expenses even as companies thrive. He argued that this frustration has helped drive political change.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s win in Michigan stood in contrast to the state’s 2024 results, when Donald Trump carried voters without college degrees by about 10 percentage points, according to exit polls. In recent years, many working-class voters—especially White working-class voters—have shifted toward Republicans. The Teamsters also drew attention in 2024 when they chose not to endorse then-Vice President Kamala Harris, amid signs that many union members favored Trump.
The political shift has been especially visible across the Rust Belt. Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin all saw notable Republican losses on election night, including in Senate, gubernatorial and state legislative races.
Fain said Democrats’ emphasis on everyday economic concerns helped them win in Michigan and elsewhere. He described the state as a reflection of broader national tensions: companies and wealthy Americans are doing well, he said, while many people are finding it harder to cover their bills. He added that voters are frustrated by outside groups trying to spend their way into political influence.
Healthcare, better wages and retirement support were among the issues Fain said could explain the Democrats’ strong results. Any party that takes those concerns seriously, he argued, could remain in power for years.
