Abstract
Since the late 1960s, Americans have been losing confidence in political and elite social institutions, and certain regional and demographic groups have turned away from the previously dominant Democratic party. Scholars have highlighted the role of cultural factors in explaining these shifts. We investigate the role of technological change, focusing on the automation of production in metal manufacturing—in particular, the diffusion of computer numerical control (CNC), which began in the 1970s. Workers who were more exposed to CNC technology reported less confidence in American institutions and weakened identification with the Democratic party. Exposure to the CNC shock at the commuting zone level reduced vote share for Democratic candidates in the South and decreased voter participation outside of the South.