In a recent report, one liberal news outlet sounded the alarm for Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign, warning that her support among Black voters—critical to her success—may be slipping.
Harris, who has long touted her connection to the African American community, faces what POLITICO calls potential “warning signs” as concerns grow over lagging turnout among this vital demographic. Speaking at a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation dinner in Washington, Harris emphasized the importance of hard work and community leadership. However, despite her message, some within the Democrat establishment fear that the enthusiasm that once surrounded her candidacy may be fading.
The threat of reduced Black voter turnout is particularly significant, as this group has historically played a crucial role in determining election outcomes for Democrats. Harris’ path to victory relies on not only maintaining but increasing turnout in key states where Black voters can swing an election. But POLITICO points to data suggesting a lack of enthusiasm and engagement, raising doubts about whether Harris can energize the base as strongly as needed.
POLITICO reported:
Though there is continuity in platform and campaign staff between President Joe Biden’s and now-Harris’ campaign, instead of a doom-and-gloom warning over lofty democratic ideals, Harris has emphasized a more practical message of freedom focused on economic opportunity and reproductive rights…
In 2020, roughly 90 percent of Black voters supported President Joe Biden, but that was down from closer to 95 percent in the few elections preceding that one. The network exit poll four years ago did show Black voters between the ages of 30 and 44 were twice as likely to support Trump (19 percent) as those 18 to 29 (10 percent), 45 to 60 (10 percent) or 60 and older (7 percent).
Younger Black men, in particular, have been straying from the Democratic party. The NAACP released a poll on Friday that found one in four younger Black men are backing her Republican opponent Trump. The survey, conducted in partnership with HIT Strategies and Hart Research, found overall 63 percent of Black voters favored Harris compared to 13 percent that backed Trump.
The gender gap is significant. Two-thirds of Black women (67 percent) back Harris, but among Black men under 50 Harris’ support plummets to 49 percent. Researchers caution the poll was conducted in early August — before both the Democratic convention and this week’s presidential debate — and say late-deciding voters may break for Harris.
In the 2020 presidential election, Black voter turnout saw a significant increase compared to previous elections according to the US Census Bureau. Approximately 63% of eligible Black voters participated, marking a rise from the 60% turnout in 2016. Although this was a substantial participation rate, it didn’t surpass the record highs observed in 2008 and 2012 during Barack Obama’s campaigns.
Overall, the election witnessed a high turnout across various demographic groups, driven in part by the use of nontraditional voting methods like mail-in ballots due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The turnout rate for all eligible voters reached about 66.8%, which was the highest for any presidential election in the 21st century
Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison highlighted the strategic importance of voter turnout in rural areas during a discussion with POLITICO. “If we can get the turnout in rural Georgia, in rural North Carolina, rural Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where we’ve got sizable pockets of Black and brown voters, it puts less pressure on our urban areas, and it really allows us to run up these scores,” Harrison explained. “It’s going to be the reason why Kamala Harris is going to be elected 47th president.”
Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), a campaign surrogate whose district comprises approximately 56 percent non-white residents, stressed the importance of outreach in traditionally Republican regions. “If they can make a dent in those red areas that will make a huge difference in the entire state,” McClellan noted. “So it’s making sure that we leave no community behind because we’re everywhere.”
(VOTE: Are You Supporting TRUMP Or KAMALA In November?)