Union Leader Says Democrats Could Lose Working-Class Voters Again in 2028

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain is warning Democrats not to assume their sweeping midterm victories mean working-class voters are permanently back in their corner heading into the 2028 presidential election.

Speaking with Fox News at the Michigan Democratic Party's election night watch party Tuesday, Fain said voters would support whichever candidates demonstrate a commitment to their economic concerns, regardless of party affiliation.

"It makes me confident that the working class will back whoever supports them, who they see getting behind their issues," Fain said.

"We're not Republicans, we are not Democrats, we aren't independents. We support people that back us," he added.

Fain argued that frustration over corporate profits and executive compensation has created an opening for politicians willing to prioritize workers. He pointed to massive stock buybacks and financial rewards for corporate leaders while employees struggle to cover basic expenses.

He described the election results as a warning to politicians who have failed to address those concerns.

Michigan's results were particularly notable given President Donald Trump's performance among voters without college degrees in the state during the 2024 presidential election. Trump won that group by approximately 10 percentage points, according to exit polling.

The shift among working-class voters has been a major part of the Republican Party's gains during the Trump era. Union members have also shown signs of moving away from traditional Democratic loyalties, with the Teamsters notably declining to endorse then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.

Republicans suffered significant defeats across traditional Rust Belt battlegrounds Tuesday, including Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, where Democrats scored major victories in statewide and legislative contests.