ABC Poll Shows Merit Shop Workers Key to GOP Success in Swing States

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ABC released the results of a new Harris Poll study on May 6 showing that nonunion construction workers played a major role in President Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory and could remain a decisive voting bloc heading into the 2026 midterm elections. Conducted across six key battleground states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin—the survey found that nonunion skilled trades workers overwhelmingly supported Republican candidates at higher rates than union workers and now represent a dominant share of the construction workforce electorate.

According to Associated Builders and Contractors, nonunion workers account for between 76% and 98% of the construction workforce electorate in the surveyed states, reinforcing the growing political influence of the merit shop construction industry. ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman said the findings challenge the assumption that working-class voters are primarily aligned with organized labor and union leadership.

The survey also highlighted strong opposition among construction workers to government-mandated project labor agreements on federally funded projects. ABC argues that these mandates limit competition and restrict opportunities for the overwhelming majority of construction professionals who choose not to join a union.

Among the study’s findings:

► Nonunion construction workers supported President Trump at significantly higher rates than union workers in all six battleground states.
► In Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina, support among nonunion workers exceeded union support by 19 percentage points.
► In Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, support among nonunion workers exceeded union support by 7 percentage points.
► Skilled trades workers opposed union-preference federal contracting policies by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.
► More than 80% of nonunion workers and 73% of union workers agreed the federal government should prioritize best value for taxpayers over union affiliation in contractor selection.

ABC leaders said the results send a clear message to policymakers and candidates ahead of the 2026 election cycle as workforce development, federal contracting policy, labor regulations and merit shop competition continue to shape the national construction industry conversation.

To read ABC’s press release on this issue, click here.