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Harris and Trump are vying for middle-class voters. But who really is the middle class?
Brookings
2024.11.05
In the parlance of political discourse, the “middle class” is frequently invoked as a social aspiration and a cornerstone of economic policy. The current presidential candidates’ rhetoric is no exception. Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh last month, said, “I intend to chart a new way forward and grow America’s middle class.” She added, “When the middle class is strong, America is strong, and we can build a stronger middle class.”

Similarly, during a recent campaign rally in Michigan, former President Donald Trump said, “On November 5, we will save our economy, we will rescue our middle class, [and] we will reclaim our sovereignty.”

More than just an economic bracket, the middle class symbolizes a collective aspiration of stability and opportunity. Naturally, the middle class is a highly sought-after demographic in electoral politics. Yet as frequently as the term is used, the definition of “middle class” is not uniform, and even within the bounds of a single definition, its composition varies significantly based on geographic location and identity. Wealth disparities among different racial and ethnic groups complicate the landscape, challenging the notion of a homogenous middle-class experience.

Aggregate analyses of the middle class mask substantive differences across race and place. This report examines these differences so that voters can understand the diversity and complexity of middle-class America outside of political rhetoric, as it has implications on what policies will equitably and effectively expand opportunity, wealth, and quality of life.