Democrats won big in Ohio on working-class issues. Can they deliver?
Historians and political scientists say that framing the wins as ‘Ohio’s working class has come home’ is too simple At its peak, the Mahoning valley was once the beating heart of the US’s steel economy – a hardscrabble, heavily unionized Democratic bastion in north-eastern Ohio. But de-industrialization, sparked by the mass closure of steel mills in the late 1970s, transformed the region. Tens of…
Historians and political scientists caution against portraying Ohio's recent Democratic victories as a simple "return of the working class" to the Democratic party. After the steel industry's decline in the late 1970s, the Mahoning Valley, once a Democratic stronghold, saw population decline and support for Democrats fade. In 2020, Mahoning County voted for its first Republican presidential candidate in a generation, sparking debate about how Ohio's working class had abandoned the Democratic party.
On election night, however, Ohio elected a Democratic senator, eight Democrats to the House of Representatives and the state's first Democratic governor in 16 years. Experts argue that such a simple framing fails to capture the complexity of Ohio's political landscape. Michael Pierce, a labor historian, notes that the "white working class" and the broader working class are distinct categories.
Vladimir Kogan, a political scientist, further complicates the issue, highlighting how income alone does not accurately define the working class, as people from vastly different backgrounds can have similar economic statuses.
Despite these complexities, Democrats performed exceptionally well in Ohio, with figures like Amy Acton, Sherrod Brown, and Brian Poindexter scoring significant wins. These victories suggest a latent solidarity within the Rust Belt, according to Laura Bucci. The Democratic message resonated with blue-collar voters frustrated by rising costs and affordability issues.
Jim Conrad, a retired school teacher, expressed his frustration with income inequality and supported Democratic candidates based on issues rather than party affiliation.
Historians also point to two distinct working classes in Ohio. The "upper" class, comprising unionized steelworkers and autoworkers, once enjoyed higher standards of living. However, de-industrialization has left many "lower" working class individuals in low-wage service jobs, facing the brunt of rising prices. Ohio's median household income has fallen below the national average, making economic challenges even more acute.
Acton's campaign emphasized her working-class origins in Youngstown, a city often used as a symbol of regular working folks in Ohio politics. Her message of being "scrappy" and grounded appealed to voters who had grown disillusioned with the political establishment. Meanwhile, Sherrod Brown framed his race as a struggle against billionaires, targeting datacenters and their impact on electricity costs. His approach tapped into the anxiety over job displacement in the face of technological advancements.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
