A New York Times–Siena poll found independent voters more likely to call Republicans “elitist” than Democrats, 43% to 33%, a reversal from a near tie in 2022. Among 18- to 29-year-olds, 59% said the label fit Republicans, versus 27% for Democrats.
Philosophy professor Alex Priou said persistent economic worries, especially among young people, may have contributed to the shift. He also pointed to the success of democratic socialist candidates such as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, saying they speak more directly and make bigger promises to struggling young people; whether they deliver, he said, is another matter.
Political scientist Jacob Neiheisel said Republicans have long been associated with elite institutions, while Democrats have been linked to the “common man.” The article says Trump’s populist appeals once helped Republicans shed that label, but his second-term image has weakened. It cites an unpopular war in Iran, tariffs that a recent Economist study said increased manufacturing but not jobs, cuts to SNAP and health care funding, policy changes affecting the Affordable Care Act and Medicare, tax cuts for the wealthy, billionaire appointees, and a White House ballroom estimated at $600 million, partly paid for by taxpayers.
