Black registered voters hold a largely favorable opinion of Vice President Kamala Harris, although they are less convinced about her potential to improve the country, according to a recent poll by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Conducted in mid-September, the survey revealed that approximately 70% of Black voters view Harris positively, with little difference in sentiment between Black men and women. Both younger and older Black voters also share similar perceptions of the vice president.
In stark contrast, former President Donald Trump receives overwhelmingly negative evaluations from Black voters, highlighting the difficulties he faces in trying to sway support from Black men. Black voters are a crucial demographic for the Democratic Party, with only a small fraction identifying as Republicans. The survey indicated that two-thirds of Black voters align with the Democratic Party, around 20% identify as independents, and about 10% consider themselves Republicans.
Despite their favorable views of Harris, many Black voters express uncertainty about whether she would enact meaningful change. Only about half believe the phrase “would change the country for the better” applies to Harris very or extremely well, while about 30% feel it describes her somewhat well. Approximately 20% say it does not apply well at all. Moreover, only around half think that the outcome of the presidential election will significantly affect them personally, a sentiment echoed by the general American populace.
Raina Johnson, a 53-year-old safety case manager from Chicago, expressed that while she anticipates Harris will attempt to advocate for the public, she believes that Harris will face limitations similar to those that former President Obama encountered due to opposition from the Republican Party. Johnson, while acknowledging the high stakes of the election, feels it won’t greatly impact her life, stating, “I’ll just have to roll with the punches.”
When asked which candidate would better address their primary concerns, including the economy, healthcare, and crime, Black voters favored Harris. Around 80% identified the economy as a critical voting issue, while roughly 75% highlighted healthcare as important, compared to just over half of registered voters overall. Black voters were also more likely than the broader electorate to prioritize gun policy and crime.
Harris maintains a significant advantage over Trump in these areas, with a 40-point lead on economic issues and a 60-point advantage on abortion policy. In light of these findings, the Trump campaign has ramped up efforts to engage Black communities, believing that his messaging on the economy, immigration, and traditional values could resonate with younger Black men.
Rod Wettlin, a retired Air Force veteran from Arizona, expressed his deep opposition to Trump and voiced concerns about the election’s implications for American democracy. He remarked, “What’s going on now is the culmination of a lot of stuff that’s been in our face for years.”
Certain demographics within the Black community, such as women and older voters, are more likely to view Harris as someone who would advocate for their interests compared to younger voters and men. The poll indicates that a significant majority of Black voters hold a negative view of Trump, with around 80% expressing an unfavorable opinion. Only 15% view him positively, and just 10% believe he would make a good president or fight for people like them.
Roslyn Coble, a 63-year-old resident of North Carolina, stated, “I think we’re headed in the right direction if Kamala Harris gets it… But if Donald Trump gets it, it’s going to be bad. He already told us what he’s going to do. He’s going to be a dictator.” Approximately 70% of Black voters believe the phrase “will say anything to win the election” accurately describes Trump.
The race dynamics have shifted since former President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the Democratic candidacy in July, with only 55% of Black men viewing Biden favorably compared to 70% of Black women. Wettlin noted that Biden should have exited the race earlier and expressed skepticism about his accomplishments.
Organizations focused on engaging voters report a surge of enthusiasm among voters and advocates since Harris entered the race. Both the Harris and Trump campaigns are intensifying their outreach to this demographic, with the Trump campaign conducting listening sessions and community events in cities like Philadelphia and Milwaukee, and Harris holding events specifically targeting Black voters, particularly Black men, with support from high-profile surrogates in recent weeks.
