As 'Blue-Collar' wages rise, so are traditional American values and a swing to the Republican Party
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Texas Insider Report) — The Democrat Party is grappling with a significant decline in voter registration nationwide from 2020 to 2024, losing 2.1 million registered voters to Republicans across 30 states that track party affiliation according to a New York Times report. Even more concerning for Democrats: since the 2024 Election, the trend has continued, with Democrats shedding 160,000 additional voters while Republicans added 200,000.
Its bolstering the Republican Party's outlook, and raising alarms about Democrat's prospects in 2026 – and 2028.The Republican Party has gained 2.4 million voters in the same 2020 to 2024 period, shrinking Democrat's advantage from nearly 11 points to just over 6 points, according to the New York Times.
"It's unusual for a political party to keep gaining ground after winning the White House. Usually, the high watermark is reached around inauguration day – if these trends continue, it could be the start of a lasting political realignment," prominent pollster Scott Rasmussen told Just the News.
Voter data also shows that as working-class wages rise, party registration is shifting to the right.
"It's unusual for a political party to keep gaining ground after winning the White House. Usually, the high watermark is reached around inauguration day – if these trends continue, it could be the start of a lasting political realignment," prominent pollster Scott Rasmussen told Just the News.
Voter data also shows that as working-class wages rise, party registration is shifting to the right.
During the initial five months of Trump's second term, blue-collar workers saw real wages rise by nearly 2% (see chart, below right,) the most significant increase for hourly employees in almost six decades according to a recent White House released.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cited by the New York Post, shows average hourly earnings climbing 1.7% to $31.18 from $30.67, suggesting a potential annual growth rate of 4.1% – fueled by lower inflation under Donald Trump and policies that have promoted domestic U.S. manufacturing while virtually eliminating illegal immigration.
The closest comparable wage growth in a president's first term was a 0.8% increase under President Richard Nixon in 1969.Unlike many politicians who make lofty promises to the middle class while campaigning, then abandoning those promises once in office, President Donald Trump has prioritized keeping promises he made to "Blue Collar" Americans, and has borne fruit evidenced by wage growth, polling, and assistance to Americans seeking well-paying trade jobs.
And the recently passed "One Big Beautiful Bill" championed by Trump contains dozens of initiatives aimed at boosting the middle-class and blue-collar America.
Perhaps the most emblematic may be the new expansion of Pell Grant usage. Pell Grants are a federal government subsidy provided to students who need financial assistance to pay for education beyond grade school. The grants used to apply only to four-year colleges and universities.
In turn, data show that the preponderance of these schools provided what are traditionally called "liberal arts" degrees, including the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and natural sciences. The humanities alone account for 16.3% of federal grant money, while social and behavioral sciences account for another 7%.
Add Vocational Training to the Mix
However, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act enacted in July, broadens financial support for short-term vocational training programs, allowing low-income students to fund trade certifications.Effective July 1, 2026, students can use these grants for accredited programs spanning eight to 15 weeks, such as training for electricians, plumbers and medical assistants.
By way of comparison, graduates who work with their hands after vocational training are far more likely to earn considerably more money.
Industry newsletter Service Titan says that the average salary for an entry-level HVAC technician (0-2 years' experience) nationwide is $54,100. For intermediate experience (2-4 years), it’s $65,700, and for experienced HVAC technicians (4-7 years), it’s $77,200.
Zip Recruiter says that an entry-level pipeline welder can expect to earn an average of $71,593 a year, with some entry-level jobs paying as much as $87,500 a year.
Continuing to monitor Voter Registration Patterns, one report cited recently by former House Speaker Net Gingrich noted, “1,059,683 net registrations have swung in favor of the GOP in just 7 months.”
Republicans had made gains in 11 Blue tates, 11 Red States, and in all seven Battleground States which had updated voter registration data.
Out of these 29 states which have updated data that track registrations by party affiliation – which not all states do – Democrats have not gained in a single state.
Republicans had made gains in 11 Blue tates, 11 Red States, and in all seven Battleground States which had updated voter registration data.
Out of these 29 states which have updated data that track registrations by party affiliation – which not all states do – Democrats have not gained in a single state.
The numbers are certainly decisive, and may be indicative of a an historic shift.
Arizona’s lean toward Republicans increased from 6.8% to 7.4%.- Florida went from a 7.8% GOP advantage to 9.75.
- Iowa went from being plus 10.3% to being plus 10.9% Republican.
- The Democrat advantage in Nevada dropped from 0.5% to 0.2%.
- New Hampshire’s Republican advantage grew from 4.3% to 5.1%.
- North Carolina fell from a 1.3% to a 0.2% Democrat advantage.
- Finally, Pennsylvania dropped from 3.1% to 2.0% Democrat advantage. (Pennsylvania and Michigan have voted similarly since 1952.)
- In 2016, Hillary Clinton carried South Texas in a landslide by a 19-point margin.
- In 2020, the shift to President Trump among Hispanics had begun, with Joe Biden winning by only 2.6%.
- By 2024, Democrats’ open borders and anti-law enforcement agenda led Trump to carry South Texas by 13.3%.
