A recent New York Times poll has revealed that black voters are shifting away from the Democratic Party more than expected. While Vice President Kamala Harris is still projected to win a majority of black votes, her support is notably lower than the level Joe Biden achieved in 2020.
The poll found that eight in 10 black voters nationwide plan to vote for Harris, an increase from the 74 percent who initially backed Biden before he dropped out of the race. However, in the 2020 election, Biden secured 90 percent of the black vote, marking Harris’ 80 percent as a significant drop, especially given the Democratic Party’s reliance on black voters and the tightness of the upcoming election in swing states.
Though Harris is expected to receive overwhelming support from black voters, GOP nominee Donald Trump is gaining more traction with this demographic than previously anticipated. His campaign has targeted black voters, particularly black men. According to the poll, 15 percent of black voters now say they will vote for Trump, a six-point increase from 2020.
The New York Times attributes this shift largely to a belief among black voters that the Democratic Party has failed to fulfill its promises to the black community while continuing to rely on their votes. The poll also found that 40 percent of black voters under 30 believe Republicans are more likely to keep their campaign promises than Democrats.