Nevada’s Working-class voters give neither party an edge
Working-class voters are split between Republicans and Democrats heading into the 2026 midterms, according to a POLITICO Poll Working-class voters are generally described as people in blue-collar and service jobs such as construction, manufacturing, warehousing, and hospitality, and they are unlikely to have a college degree. In Nevada, they make up a large part of the electorate, especially in Clark County. About 72% of Nevada adults age 25 and older do not have a college degree, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and are considered working class. Clark County holds most of those jobs. Southern Nevada’s tourism industry alone employed about 250,630 people in 2025.
In the poll, 32% said Republicans best represent them, while 38% said Democrats. A majority of the poll respondents, 55%, said politicians talk about helping the working class only to win votes. On the economy, around 50% said President Trump has spent too much time on foreign affairs rather than affordability issues at home.
The poll’s main finding is that working-class voters give neither party a decisive advantage. In Nevada, Democratic campaigns have focused on costs and affordability. Republican campaigns have focused on protecting American jobs and domestic products, and on tariffs leveling the playing field for American manufacturers. Both parties will be targeting the working-class vote to win the edge in the midterms.
