A recent study from Stanford University and King’s College London found that small business owners are more likely to identify with and vote for right-wing parties. The experience of being a small business owner leads people to adopt conservative views on government regulation. This is not surprising, as most business owners are Republicans and have quietly and successfully run businesses in places you may never have heard of.
The disconnect between Republicans and Democrats for business can be attributed to various factors. One reason is the risk involved in running a business, as you are the one taking the risk and making decisions with your money that affect the people who rely on your business. Government regulations increase the risk of inadvertently doing something illegal or breaking some rule, making it harder for you to operate your business. Business owners gravitate toward politicians who reduce their risk rather than add to it.
There is also control, as running a business takes more time and commitment than clocking in to a job. People leave their jobs to start businesses not just because of their passion or entrepreneurial drive but also because they want more power over their own lives. Any interference or challenges to that control is against their best interests.
Fear plays a big part in driving business owners to the right. They are generally wary and untrusting of politicians, as they lie for a living and promise promises that never materialize. In the end, business is about perception, and right-leaning politicians give the perception that they are pro-business. To win over the hearts and votes of the more than 30 million small-business owners in the U.S., you have to address these concerns.
