We may be called the USA, but when it comes to politics we are completely disconnected. About half the spectrum votes Democratic, roughly the other half votes Republican, and then there are those who either don’t vote or vote for a third-party candidate.

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What about the middle class? How do they vote? In fact, they are divided among themselves. Many will vote Democrat. Many will vote Republican. One financial perspectiveWhich party is better positioned to best meet the needs of the middle class? Are Republicans more likely to help rich people than they are to help the middle class, or vice versa?

GOBankingRates spoke with David Brooks, president and founder of CEPA, CIS, CHRS. Retire SMART, LLCTo understand whether Republicans prefer high-income earners middle class people.

Wealth Assets Could Grow Further Under Democrats — But The Middle Class May Not Notice It

Although wealthy people often favor Republicans financially because of their support for tax cuts on high-income earners and large corporations, there is evidence that invested wealth performs better under Democratic leadership.

“The rich do a lot better when Democrats are in the White House,” Brooks said. “According to the last 92 years of S&P records, the S&P index achieved an average return of 7.85% during the Republican presidency, while this rate was 14.93% during Democratic administrations.”

The point is that middle-class people don’t necessarily measure their financial well-being by the performance of investments.

“Many of them are not investing in assets like the stock market or real estate,” Brooks said. “They just ask themselves, ‘Am I doing better?’ they ask.

Inflation is the key to how to answer this question for yourself.

“People living paycheck to paycheck today tend to answer ‘No’ because they are feeling the pain of prices overall being 20% ​​higher than they were four years ago,” Brooks said.

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Let’s Consider Who Will Best Move From Recession to Middle Class

Brooks believes the United States will experience a recession no matter who the next president is. So, as he puts it, the question is: “Which approach is most likely to get us out of this situation and create a healthy economic environment for the middle class?”

The answer seems to be Democrats.

“Democrats generally advocate social welfare programs, higher taxes on the wealthy and regulations to reduce income inequality,” Brooks said. “Campaign policies often focus on health, education, and social safety net expansion to support low-income individuals.”

But wait. At the same time, the answer seems to be Republicans.

“Republicans generally emphasize tax cuts, reduced government regulations, less government spending and more free market solutions,” Brooks said. “They argue that a rising tide lifts all boats, that helping businesses and the wealthy can lead to job creation and economic growth, which they believe will ultimately benefit everyone.”

Republican leaders and Democratic leaders have little in common, but when things get bad for the economy they both look for ways to get back to smooth sailing. They approach problems differently, and while some middle-class people may feel more financially secure under a Democratic administration, others may feel more secure under Republican leadership.

The Rich Succeed Both Ways

The middle class may or may not be better off under a Republican presidency. Are they rich? Brooks said they would benefit either way, under a Harris or Trump administration.

“In America, history and economic data show that the wealthy generally fare well, regardless of which party is in power,” Brooks said.

Do Both Political Parties Really Serve the Middle Class?

Perhaps the smarter question to ask isn’t, “Are Republicans more likely to help the rich than they are to help the middle class?” but “Are both political parties really helping the middle class?”

Brooks suggested the answer was no.

“As a registered Independent, I believe both parties have failed the American people in a variety of ways,” Brooks said. “Republicans do not always practice the rhetoric, policies and approaches they preach. “Democrats are more faithful practitioners of what they preach, but I don’t think theirs is the right formula, especially for the middle class.”

Editor’s note on election news: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to objectively cover all aspects of the economy and provide balanced reporting on politically focused finance stories. You can find more information on this topic at: GOBankingRates.com.

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