Here’s Why Both U.S. Parties Need to Worry About Poverty

There’s a reason presidential nominee Donald Trump’s message of a declining America is inspiring support in Republican strongholds: poverty is worsening in his party's congressional districts, a new analysis by the Brookings Institution shows.

The poverty rate increased in nearly all — 96 percent — of the Republican-controlled districts between 2000 and the 2010-2014 period, according to a study by Elizabeth Kneebone, a fellow with the Washington-based institute. She analyzed Census data and figures from the American Community Survey. The population living in poverty in all Republican districts climbed by 49 percent, compared with a 33 percent increase in Democratic areas.