McDonald's has emerged as a potent emblem for Democratic supporters.
With that job listing on their resumes, Harris and Emhoff share a connection with around 1 in 8 Americans who have worked at McDonald's – 13% of the population, as per the company's data.
Sharing this shared history, as they did this week during the Democratic National Convention, serves as a potent tool for Democrats to enhance their working-class credibility and, without mentioning their opponents directly, paint former President Donald Trump and the Republican ticket as elite and out of touch.
In several speeches and campaign ads, Democrats have been keen on reminding voters about Harris's humble beginnings. Raised by a single mom in a middle-class neighborhood, Harris worked part-time to earn money for her college education.
Former President Bill Clinton, whose fondness for McDonald's became a popular sketch topic on "Saturday Night Live" in the 1990s, joked during his speech that he's looking forward to Harris breaking his record as the president who has spent the most time at McDonald's.
Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett was more blunt in highlighting the contrast between Harris's background and Trump's, whose real estate career began with what he called a "small" $1 million loan from his father.
"One candidate worked at McDonald's ... The other was born into privilege, using his family's wealth to build a real estate empire," Crockett said during her speech.
Emhoff, the Second Gentleman, also spoke about his working-class roots. He recounted his high school days when money was tight, and he had to work at McDonald's to make ends meet. He even proudly displayed his "Employee of the Month" award, complete with the Golden Arches logo.
McDonald's declined to comment on this story.
The mention of McDonald's is actually a clever political strategy to make both Harris and Emhoff appear more relatable to the voters, many of whom are still getting to know the Second Couple. The "McDonald's" reference is a rhetorical shortcut for having blue-collar jobs – jobs that are often low-paying and physically demanding but are highly respected by those who have worked in them. (Hi, former waitress and barista here, what can I serve you?)
Democrats hope that the millions of voters who have worked in these jobs will find it hard to imagine a billionaire like Trump dealing with the daily challenges of working in the food service industry.
That's exactly what Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was alluding to in a campaign speech earlier this month.
"Can you visualize Trump working at McDonald's? ... He wouldn't be able to operate the McFlurry machine, let alone run a successful fast-food chain," Walz said.
Working in the food service industry, like serving in the military and becoming a public school teacher (in Walz's case), falls under a broader populist, pro-worker narrative that Democrats have adopted, particularly under President Joe Biden, who has backed unions and joined a workers' picket line during a major auto workers' strike. Democrats seem to be betting on the strength of a growing labor movement in America.
Shifting demographics and a changing global economy have led many working-class White voters – historically strong supporters of the Democrats – to vote Republican. It was hard to imagine, even a few years ago, that one of the headliners at the 2024 DNC would be the head of the United Auto Workers union, wearing a "Trump is a scab" T-shirt on stage. And yet, here we are.
Perhaps no other major Democrat embodies this populist brand better than New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was working as a waitress in Manhattan just six years ago.
"Ever since I was elected, Republicans have attacked me by saying I should go back to bartending. But I'm happy to do so, any day of the week, because there's nothing wrong with working hard for a living. I'd be proud to have leaders in the White House who understand that," she said during her speech at the DNC.
In their political strategies, Democrats frequently highlight the working-class backgrounds of Harris and Emhoff, both of whom had jobs at McDonald's, as a way to connect with voters who have held similar blue-collar positions.
The use of McDonald's as a symbol of their working-class past is a strategic move to make Harris and Emhoff appear more relatable to voters, as many Americans have had experiences working in low-paying, yet respected, jobs at fast-food chains.
