In January, as the world anticipated the nature of a second Donald Trump Presidency, images from the Inauguration provided a preview of what lay ahead. A select few joined politicians within the Capitol rotunda to commemorate the start of the Trump administration, while all others were left outside in the cold. Six months later, Congress enacted one of the most substantial transfers of wealth from low-income individuals to the rich in historical record. As lawmakers head home for their August recess, the evidence is clear: the White House and Congress are collaborating to serve the interests of the elite at the expense of ordinary Americans.
On one hand, these are trying times: authority is concentrated in the hands of those who pray at the commencement of Congress, then proceed to exploit the very people they swore an oath to serve. However, a close examination of voter demographics and the consistent failure of both Democratic and Republican parties to engage poor voters in recent decades suggests that a small segment of impoverished voters, who realize they are losing their , , and due to their political leadership, possess the potential to revolutionize American politics.
Over the last four decades, as exponentially for all Americans, the population of poor and —66 million in 2018—has grown more rapidly than any other demographic. This is a contributing factor to why low-income, predominantly white communities became receptive to the “populist” appeal of the MAGA movement. If white people are suffering, the implies, it must be because Black people or immigrants are taking from them. By extensively investing in extreme , Trump’s administration has staked everything on this fallacy.
Yet, the reality of American politics is that, despite these appeals, the majority of poor people do not vote against their own interests. While Trump gained ground in 2024 among low-income voters who participated in the election, from Lake Research Associates clearly shows that the significant change was in the number of poor and low-income individuals who opted not to vote in the contest between Trump and Harris. Over 19 million “Biden Skippers” who had helped elect President Joe Biden in 2020 did not cast ballots in 2024. When questioned, nearly one-third stated their primary reason for not voting was that they felt the Democrats’ message did not address their economic circumstances.
When asked, these “Biden skippers” were not politically apathetic. Quite the opposite, nearly half reported checking the news more than once daily, and the majority favored Democrats in a generic electoral matchup. What they desire is a candidate who connects with them, commits to advocating for them, and presents an economic plan that they believe would genuinely improve their lives.
Poor people are not fueling the extremism in American politics, nor are they Trump’s primary base, given that his major policy achievement has been to that benefit ordinary citizens so he can grant tax reductions to corporations and affluent Americans. Poor and low-income Americans are, in fact, the largest undecided voting bloc in the nation. We need a movement to mobilize poor people who have not voted because they have never conceived that the system could work for them. As they begin to experience the repercussions of the cuts from Trump’s substantial and unfavorable budget bill, poor and low-income individuals must organize to demand candidates who will genuinely represent them.
Movements that unite poor people across racial and regional lines can draw upon America’s heritage of moral fusion movements to strengthen democracy for everyone. In our book , we documented how the 2018 midterms witnessed an approximate 10% increase in voter participation compared to the preceding midterms—a larger four-year increase than Obama’s record turnout in 2008. Numerous factors contributed to this surge in participation, but a raw numerical increase in low-income voters made a significant contribution to the “blue wave” that restored Democratic control of the U.S. House in 2018 and imposed a check on Trump’s use of the White House to reward elite interests and undermine policies that uplift poor people in 2020.
A movement can influence how candidates communicate and the agenda they pledge to pursue once elected. Democrats require new leadership that not only articulates a vision for how government can serve everyday people, but also demonstrates a commitment to utilizing executive action, reforming the courts, and employing power while in office to secure policies that lift from the bottom, so everyone can advance.
If a moral fusion movement, led by poor and low-income people, can emerge in America today, we possess the numbers to shift the political dialogue. This is why we have organized to visit the districts that will be most severely impacted first by cuts to healthcare and mobilize directly affected individuals to speak directly to their representatives, accompanied by clergy and moral leaders. A movement guided by these individuals, forming alliances across racial divides and collaborating with progressive allies, could determine not only Presidential elections but also many Congressional and other statewide races.
Poor and low-income individuals comprise approximately one-third of the U.S. electorate—more than 40% of the electorate in the swing states that will decide the 2026 midterms. It is time for poor people of every race to reject the falsehoods that have been used to divide us and unite to demand an economy that benefits all of us. Such a movement is not only favorable news for the poor; it represents the greatest hope for American democracy.
Adapted from , by William J. Barber with Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (Liveright), available in paperback August 5, 2025.
