With the election now behind us, new Brookings Metro research is providing clarity on the results on a state and local level, while also charting a path forward as control in Washington changes hands.
One thing that's become clear is that despite plenty of pundits declaring President-elect Donald Trump's victory as an upheaval of the electoral status quo, many voting patterns changed only minimally. This includes Trump's gains among minority voters, which William H. Frey puts into broader context as potentially a short-term "blip" rather than a lasting reorientation.
Meanwhile, Mark Muro and Shriya Methkupally find that Trump-voting counties again represent a minority share of national GDP, as they did in 2016 and 2020. Importantly, this points to a persistent economic gulf separating large, dynamic metro areas and America's "left-behind" places, which continue to struggle.
It will take sustained, committed investment to close that divide—as well as tailored, locally-led solutions in the communities that need them. Fortunately, our recent research is highlighting those too, including reports on reforms to give municipalities more say in infrastructure projects and local policies to help underrepresented workers break into highly digital jobs.
Post-election analyses have emphasized President-elect Donald Trump's gains among Black and Latino or Hispanic voters, even declaring that the GOP has transformed into a new, powerful multiracial coalition. But William H. Frey's examination of exit polls shows that 2024 may instead represent small deviations from long-term minority voting patterns, raising the question of whether these voters will return to the Democratic Party as economic challenges subside and other issues come to the fore.
After the 2016 and 2020 elections, Brookings research showed sharp divides in the economic output of Trump-voting counties compared to Democratic counties. Mark Muro and Shriya Methkupally write that this pattern continued in 2024, with Trump's base representing just 40% of the nation's GDP. While this is an uptick from his previous showings, it again highlights a national economy rigidly divided between Republican-leaning rural and small town communities and denser, more dynamic metro areas that tend to vote Democratic.
A survey of state transportation planning, investment, and accountability practices.State departments of transportation (DOTs) have enormous authority to determine what projects get built, where, and by whom—but most do so with little transparency or local input. In this first-of-its-kind survey, Adie Tomer and Ben Swedberg inventory state DOT planning, investment, and accountability practices, and recommend reforms to align long-term goals, collaborate with local stakeholders, and more.
Using infrastructure academies to address workforce needs. With recent federal legislation pumping over $1 trillion into infrastructure and climate-focused projects, there comes a new challenge and opportunity: hiring, training, and retaining a generation of talent to advance these projects. Joseph W. Kane and co-authors report on how communities such as Austin, Texas are establishing "infrastructure academics" to connect more and different workers to these careers.
The U.S. digital economy's future depends on equitable access to its jobs. Emerging technologies and highly digital jobs have become central to U.S. economic policymaking and growth, yet scholarship has shown that women and workers of color remain underrepresented in these careers. Despite ongoing political and legal efforts to roll back initiatives that could reduce these disparities, this new Brookings analysis proposes robust state and local policy recommendations to build out pathways to such opportunity.
The working class needs quality jobs—and regional leaders need to define what those are. Historically low unemployment and a post-pandemic pay bump for low-wage work have obscured a "hollowing" of the labor market, with declining employment shares in quality, middle-wage jobs. Yet there is little consensus on what exactly a "quality job" is in measurable terms. Brookings Metro details one way to define these vital occupations to help workforce and economic development leaders focus their strategies.
About Brookings Metro
Brookings Metro is the nation’s leading source of ideas and action to create more prosperous, just, and resilient U.S. communities. We produce trusted, actionable research; apply it through regional engagements and national networks; and connect with policymakers at all levels to inform impact at scale.
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