U.S. Congress will consider a $15 minimum wage for the second time soon. Joe Biden and most congressional Democrats want to more than double the minimum hourly wage from its current level of $7.25. Although Democrats have this policy goal, survey data (see below) show that the majority of Republican voters actually support raising the minimum wage as well, just not to a level as high as $15.
An incorrect common stereotype exists that says that Republicans don’t want to raise minimum wage at all. While Republicans don’t necessarily support raising the minimum wage all the way to $15, at least some are inclined to raise it to a certain extent. Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) were among five Republicans who even unveiled a plan for $10 an hour.
Some compromise from both parties is likely required to raise the minimum wage, considering that the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that a minimum wage provision does not comply with the “Byrd rule” for budget reconciliation in the Senate. Reconciliation is a “process that allows the Senate to make changes to federal tax and spending policy with a simple majority, rather than requiring the usual 60-vote threshold.”
Another common stereotype is that all Democrats want a $15 minimum wage. In fact, Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) have stated that they do not support this measure. Manchin, however, supports an increase to around $11 an hour.
We can see here that the party lines are not as obvious as stereotypes might suggest. They overlap in a number of ways, and both Republicans and Democrats have the opportunity to pass some kind of minimum wage increase if they realize they have more in common on this issue.
Recent survey data showing shared views among Democrats and Republicans on minimum wage below.
Survey Data
- A 2024 Data for Progress poll showed that Americans agree on raising the minimum wage:
- 86% of Americans believe that the federal minimum wage of $7.25 “is not enough for the average American worker to have a decent quality of life” (89% Democrats, 86% Independents, 84% Republicans).
- The largest support among all likely voters is for a $9 federal minimum wage.
- A study reported in 2023 found two-thirds of Americans support raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour:
- 65% of those surveyed believe the minimum wage should be increased to $15 per hour over the next five years.
- A yearly adjustment to the minimum wage, tied to the inflation rate to maintain its consistent value, was favored by 63% of people.
- A 2022 YouGov study found agreement on the federal minimum wage as unsustainable:
- 70% of US adults say the federal minimum wage is “not sustainable to live on for any period of time”.
- A majority of Americans believe the following workers and more should be paid at least minimum wage:
- Babysitters (56%)
- Refugees (64%)
- Tipped employees (65%)
- Non-profit workers (69%)
- Full time students (72%)
- Taxi drivers (74%)
- Disabled workers (78%)
- Farm/agricultural workers (80%)
- A slim majority of Americans (53%) believe that raising the minimum wage would help the economy as it would give workers more money to spend.
- 71% of Americans believe that the minimum wage should be set at a level that motivates individuals receiving welfare benefits to actively pursue employment opportunities. 81% of Democrats and 66% of Republicans agree.
Bella Jasper is currently a high school student who is deeply interested in politics and journalism. In her writing, she hopes to provide a sense of commonality in politics. Bella has a Lean Left bias.
This piece was edited by AllSides.com Managing Editor Henry A. Brechter (Center bias) and News Editor Micaela Ricaforte (Center bias), and was reviewed by James Coan (Center) of Braver Angels.
