On most issues, Black voters are more confident in Harris than Trump

Sep 30, 2024 Story by: Editor

A recent Pew Research Center survey highlights that the vast majority of Black registered voters are backing Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. According to the findings , 84% of Black voters would vote for Harris if the election were held today, compared to just 13% for Trump. This reflects a slight shift from four years ago when 92% of Black validated voters supported Joe Biden, while 8% backed Trump.

With Harris now the Democratic nominee, 57% of Black voters express satisfaction with the 2024 candidates, up significantly from July, when only 31% said the same with Biden as the likely nominee. However, satisfaction levels differ by age: 57% of Black voters between 18 and 49 years old are dissatisfied with the presidential candidates, while only 29% of those aged 50 and older feel similarly.

Key Issues for Black Voters

Majorities of Black voters express deep concerns about pressing issues such as the cost of food and consumer goods (76%), housing (72%), and unemployment (56%). Notably, 82% say the economy is a top priority for their vote this year, with similar majorities highlighting the importance of health care (82%), racial and ethnic inequality (75%), violent crime (71%), and gun policy (66%).

While these concerns are broadly shared, there are some demographic differences:

Age : Black voters aged 50 and older are more concerned about health care (86% vs. 77%), violent crime (76% vs. 65%), and gun policy (72% vs. 60%) than younger voters.

Gender : Black women are more likely than Black men to prioritize racial inequality (79% vs. 70%) and violent crime (78% vs. 63%).

Education : Those without a college degree are more likely to stress the economy (84% vs. 75%) and violent crime (74% vs. 62%).

Compared to all registered voters, Black voters are significantly more focused on racial and ethnic inequality (75% vs. 37%) and gun policy (66% vs. 56%).

Confidence in Candidates

When it comes to handling the issues that matter most to them, 48% of Black voters believe Harris’ policies would improve conditions for Black Americans, while only 8% think the same about Trump’s policies. Black voters also express much greater confidence in Harris’ ability to handle key issues:

Health care policy : 87% are confident Harris will make good decisions.

Racial issues : 86% trust her to address race-related concerns.

Economic policy : 79% feel Harris will manage the economy well.

Law enforcement and criminal justice : 78% are confident in her handling of these issues.

By contrast, no more than roughly 30% of Black voters have confidence in Trump’s ability to manage any of these areas.

Demographic Variations in Confidence

Age : Older Black voters (50+) are more likely to trust Harris on economic policy (89% vs. 64%) and criminal justice (90% vs. 62%) than younger voters.

Gender : Black women are more confident in Harris’ economic decision-making (85% vs. 71% of Black men).

In contrast, younger Black voters (18-49) are more likely than their older counterparts to have confidence in Trump on issues like health care (33% vs. 17%), race (27% vs. 13%), and the economy (45% vs. 20%). Black men are also more confident in Trump’s economic abilities (38% vs. 24% of Black women), while those without a college degree express greater confidence in Trump’s economic (35% vs. 19%) and criminal justice (27% vs. 14%) policies.

Broader National Issues

Black voters remain more confident in Harris across various national issues:

Supreme Court nominees : 85% trust Harris.

Abortion policy : 84% have confidence in her decision-making.

Foreign policy : 83% express confidence in Harris.

Immigration policy : 81% feel she will handle it wisely.

Bringing the country together : 69% believe Harris can unite the nation.

Reducing the influence of money in politics : 66% are confident Harris can address this.

However, confidence in Trump is stronger among voters overall, particularly regarding the economy, immigration, foreign policy, and criminal justice reform. Source: Pew Research