A Quiet Bipartisan Momentum Grows to Support Entrepreneurship
Even in these politically divided times new polling shows strong bipartisan interest in helping founders start and grow companies.
A quiet bipartisan movement is growing nationwide that is advancing entrepreneurship as a way to reduce a widespread sense of powerlessness and frustration among Americans who believe they are no longer in control of their economic futures. That includes people being left out by lost jobs, lacking access to desirable jobs, or being forced to take jobs they hate. Entrepreneurship has the power to change that.
Americans profoundly agree about the power of entrepreneurship. A survey conducted by a bipartisan team of pollsters for Right to Start, the national nonprofit organization that I lead, which champions entrepreneurship as a civic priority, shows that Americans who voted in the 2020 election almost unanimously agree that “it is important to America’s future that citizens have a fair opportunity to start and grow their own business” — 94 percent agree, 2 percent disagree, and 4 percent are not sure. There is near unanimity across party lines — with 95 percent of Republicans, 95 percent of Independents, and 92 percent of Democrats agreeing. That’s a remarkable stat in a polarized political climate.
Yet, at the same time, 92 percent of voters think it is difficult to start and grow a new business: 45 percent think it is very difficult, while 47 percent think it is somewhat difficult. The fact that nearly half of voters think it is “very difficult” is especially notable.
That assessment, too, crosses partisan lines: 94 percent of Republicans think it is difficult to start and grow a new business, as do 93 percent of Independents and 92 percent of Democrats. On top of that, 47 percent of voters say the federal government is doing more to get in the way of people who want to start new businesses than to help them. Only 17 percent think that the federal government is helping people who want to start new businesses — with 36 percent not sure.
As a result, things are starting to change. Increasingly, Americans are taking bipartisan action to advance entrepreneurship at the state level. Last summer, Nevada became the first state in the nation to enact a Right to Start Act, legislation that implements pro-entrepreneur policy recommendations of Right to Start. Those recommendations include creating an Office of Entrepreneurship to strengthen policies and programs supporting the growth of new businesses in the state. The legislation enjoyed broad bipartisan support on the way to its enactment.
Nevada’s action sparked momentum we now see growing across the nation in support of Right to Start’s policy recommendations. In September 2023, New Mexico created an Office of Entrepreneurship by executive action. In March 2024, Kansas established a Director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship by executive action. In May 2024, Michigan announced the appointment of the state’s first-ever Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer to advance the work of innovators and entrepreneurs. In July 2024, Missouri enacted a Right to Start Act, creating an Office of Entrepreneurship, with strong bipartisan support.
These changes reflect quiet bipartisan momentum that is growing below the surface, barely audible through the noise of partisan polarization. Americans want the opportunity to create their own futures — through the building of businesses — and know that polarization will not get them there.
As part of this momentum, a fascinating collaboration is growing between representatives of rural voters and voters of color. This, too, reflects a finding of the survey cited above. It found that, in response to the sentence “every child in school should be taught the skills to potentially build their own business someday,” 64 percent of Black voters, 63 percent of Hispanic voters, 52 percent of small-town voters, and 58 percent of rural voters said they found it “very persuasive” — significantly higher when compared with 46 percent of overall voters.
The narrative of polarization says the interests of rural voters and voters of color are different. The political coalitions advancing entrepreneurship tell a different story: collaboration.
The overwhelming bipartisan support for pro-entrepreneur policy initiatives reflects another finding of the survey: All three partisan groups would be more likely to support a political candidate who emphasizes making it easier for citizens to start and grow new businesses. That’s true for 64 percent of Independents, 62 percent of Democrats, and 59 percent of Republicans.
Americans are strivers who want action to enhance their entrepreneurial dreams, and their state elected officials are making it happen. That’s good for the economy, as young businesses create virtually all net job growth in America. It’s also good for everyone, as research across the 50 states shows that for every 1 percent increase in the entrepreneurship rate, the poverty rate decreases by 2 percent.
In the weeks and months ahead, it will be fascinating to see if candidates for federal, state, and local offices get the message and join this bipartisan momentum — or choose to ignore what voters want and merely inflame the rhetoric.