The Changing Nature of Class Voting in Canada, 1965–2019

Abstract Much attention has been paid to the changing class cleavage that structured political conflict in twentieth century. In contrast most advanced democracies, voting traditionally weak Canada. Using entire series of Canadian Election Study (1965–2019), we find historic pattern working-class for New Democratic Party (NDP) held outside Quebec recent elections, before suddenly falling off 2019. Starting 2004, a clear and distinct trend where working increased its support Conservatives. Although greater partisan sorting is occurring over economy, cultural issues such as moral traditionalism anti-immigration are now significant drivers Conservative support. The findings carry important implications class-party relationships reveal Canada, despite comparatively nativist cleavage, not immune from tensions social democratic parties have recently experienced maintaining cross-class coalitions amid socio-economic structural changes.