Vice President Kamala Harris is grappling with dwindling support among critical minority voting blocs within the Democratic coalition, as new polling data indicates former President Donald Trump’s efforts to attract these voters are making headway. Historically, Hispanic, Black, and Jewish voters have leaned toward the Democratic Party, but Trump’s outreach appears to be resonating with these groups in significant ways. report from Just The News.
Throughout his political career, Trump has made persistent attempts to win over traditionally Democratic constituencies, including Hispanic and Black voters. While his 2020 performance in these groups showed marginal improvement from his 2016 results, recent polling data suggests that Trump may be poised for substantial gains in the 2024 election cycle. His message has particularly appealed to minority voters through economic promises, while his approach to foreign policy, especially the Israel-Hamas conflict, is drawing Jewish voters into the fold.
Hispanic Voters
Republicans have long viewed the Hispanic vote as a potential game-changer but have often fallen short of expectations. This was particularly evident in the 2022 midterm elections when the GOP, despite high hopes, underperformed among Hispanic voters—aside from some notable exceptions like the Cuban-American community in Florida, known for their staunch anti-communist stance.
However, recent polls indicate that Trump’s popularity among Hispanic voters is rising, especially in key swing states like Arizona. An NBC News/Telemundo poll conducted in late September showed Vice President Harris garnering 54% of the vote among registered Latino voters, with Trump capturing 40%. This represents an 8-point improvement for Trump compared to his 2020 performance. A separate Opiniones Latinas survey found that Trump held 39% of the Hispanic vote in seven battleground states, suggesting a similar trend.
“We found that Donald Trump’s position among Hispanic voters has significantly improved compared to 2020, where he lost 65% to 32% nationally among this group,” said John McLaughlin, the pollster behind the Opiniones Latinas survey. In Arizona, Trump has managed to narrow his deficit with Hispanic voters by double digits, going from a 61-37 loss in 2020 to a 53-42 gap now, showing clear progress.
Jewish Voters
Trump’s support among Jewish voters, particularly in deep-blue states, has also increased, spurred by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and a rise in pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. As the Democratic Party navigates internal divisions on foreign policy, Trump has taken a firm pro-Israel stance, which seems to resonate with Jewish Americans concerned about anti-Semitism and national security.
In August, a Siena Research Institute poll found Trump tied with Harris among Jewish voters in New York, with both candidates receiving 50% of the vote. This marked a stark improvement for Trump, who had previously trailed Biden by 6% among Jewish voters earlier in the year. Trump’s strong messaging on combating anti-Semitism and defending Israel has played a significant role in attracting these voters.
At a recent event aimed at addressing anti-Semitism, Trump promised Jewish Americans a “bright new day,” vowing to protect them from discrimination on college campuses and to curb the influence of foreign extremists in the U.S.
Black Voters
While Trump still faces an uphill battle in securing Black voter support, his campaign has made notable inroads compared to previous elections. A survey by the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation revealed that Trump had garnered 17% of the Black vote in Texas, nearly tripling his 2020 figure of 6%. Although this is still far from consolidating the Black vote for Republicans, it represents a considerable shift in support.
Nationally, a CNN poll showed Harris maintaining 79% of Black voter support, with Trump capturing 16%. Though not a majority, this marks a significant improvement from the 8% Trump received among Black voters in the 2020 election. told by CNN.
The Trump campaign has tailored its message to Black Americans around economic issues, particularly discontent with inflation and the economy under the Biden-Harris administration. In 2020, Trump focused on his criminal justice reform record to appeal to Black voters, but in this election cycle, his economic pitch appears to be the cornerstone of his outreach efforts.
Conclusion
As the 2024 election draws nearer, Trump’s growing support among key minority voting blocs—Hispanic, Jewish, and Black voters—poses a challenge for the Democratic coalition, traditionally reliant on these groups for electoral success. With a clear focus on economic issues and foreign policy, Trump has managed to cut into the Democratic base, forcing the Biden-Harris campaign to confront the reality of shifting political allegiances. As minority voters become increasingly influential in battleground states, both parties will be vying for their support in the coming months.
