New evidence challenges the notion that labor union contributions are key to political representation equality.

This paper investigates how union strength influences democratic processes in U.S. states. We discover a counterintuitive link: higher union membership correlates with more equitable consideration of citizens' opinions, while campaign donations show no such connection.

Our findings clarify the role of organized labor:

✅ Labor unions shape political power primarily through member mobilization, not financial support.

❌ Donations alone do not guarantee representation equality.

📊 This reveals that "unequal democracy" may be more complex than previously thought.