New Poll: How the Middle Class Views the Economy

Over the past several years, many political leaders have started viewing middle-class voters as victims of economic malfeasance who need to be protected by the state. This view has been driven by rising concerns about and discussion of inequality, and it is true that in our latest survey, two-thirds of middle class voters say that America is divided between the “haves” and the “have nots.” Yet, despite believing there is unfairness in our country, the middle class doesn’t think of themselves are victims of it. In fact, when asked directly whether they consider themselves to fall on the “haves” or “have nots,” only 36% of the middle class calls themselves the latter. And 69% still agree that if you work hard you can get ahead in America.

To better understand voter sentiment, we fielded a nationwide poll of 1,000 registered voters from June 22-28, 2016 to dig into how the American middle class views the economy. Based on this data, we found three main takeaways:

1. Voters don’t think of themselves as victims of economic malfeasance.
2. They want to be equipped for a changing world.
3. The middle class is up for grabs politically.

Not Victims in a Rigged System

Instead of seeing themselves as victims or “have nots,” the middle class views themselves as actors struggling in a deeply changing world without much support from the federal government. Eight in ten say that the economy has changed in recent years and government policies haven’t adjusted to match. Another eight in ten think that there are hand-outs for the bottom and bail-outs for the top but nothing for those in the middle. Far from pawns in a rigged economic system, these voters see themselves as confronting serious economic challenges, while consistently being treated as the government’s neglected middle child.

Actors who need to be Equipped in a Changing World

Overwhelmingly, middle class voters told us that they want to be able to achieve for themselves. Two-thirds would rather politicians focus on expanding opportunity rather than reducing inequality. Even when they could select both types of federal government actions, more middle class voters wanted the federal government to focus on growing the economy and creating more opportunity (72% agree, 37% strongly) over reducing the income gap between the rich and poor (47% agree, 26% strongly). And their preferred candidate would focus on equipping them to succeed—not on a rigged system.

Candidate Message Preference among the Middle Class

Middle Class Support

Middle-class Americans want to be empowered to live lives of their own choosing. But they feel uneasy about how to achieve that right now. Middle-class voters feel they are not equipped to succeed in the changing world, but they also feel ignored by politicians. A plurality (36%) say that neither party is helping them navigate the new economy.¹  And to the extent that they think the deck is stacked against them, the middle class thinks Washington is the dealer. Over half (51%) say that if the economic system is rigged, politicians (29%) or special interest lobbyists (22%) are to blame, more so than big corporations and Wall Street (19%) or rich people (4%). This means focusing on a rigged system may not only fail to meet middle-class voters where they are, it may also increase their anger and hostility towards government and turn them off even further toward the people in it.

Up for Grabs

Right now, there is an opportunity for both parties to make a play for the middle class. One-third of the middle class identifies as a political Independent. Four in ten reject the liberal–conservative dichotomy and call themselves a moderate or opt out of ideological labels. Nearly three in ten are undecided on the generic House ballot (29%) and the presidential contest (28%). These voters are looking for someone to equip them with the tools to succeed and get ahead in the new economy. That is why a more aspirational message empowering them to create and take advantage of opportunities for themselves appeals to them.

Except where noted, all of the data is from our National Survey of Registered Voters conducted June 22–28, 2016 by Anzalone Liszt Grove.

The middle class is defined here as households earning between $30,000 and $100,000 annually.