America’s Political Divide Is Also an Economic Divide

“One of the most telling data points from the 2020 election was that Donald Trump won 83% of America’s counties, but those counties accounted for only 29% of the U.S. gross domestic product,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Joe Biden, by contrast, won 17% of U.S. counties, but those places produced more than 70% of the nation’s economic output.”

“It was a stark illustration of how America’s two political parties represent two different economies. Democrats dominate in cities and populous inner suburbs, where the nation’s professional class is clustered. Republicans hold sway in nonmetropolitan areas, where jobs in agriculture, mining and basic manufacturing are more common. The party’s footprint has lots of land, but a smaller share of the national economy.”

“Now there are signs this calcified economic map could change.”