Democrats are running on working-class résumés. Republicans question the credentials

Published June 6, 2026 7:00am ET



As Democrats try to rebuild support among working-class voters, they’re increasingly running candidates who bill themselves as blue-collar outsiders, and Republicans are increasingly accusing them of overselling the story.

From Montana to Maine, campaigns are scrutinizing rivals’ résumés, political connections, and family backgrounds to undermine claims of working-class authenticity. Republicans have already begun deploying that argument against Democratic candidates in some of the country’s most competitive races.

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