Vice President Kamala Harris is getting a lot of wind in her sails from the Black women voters, largely because she has centered on such critical health care issues as maternal mortality, reproductive rights, and gun control. It may be very important to how much this renewed enthusiasm can propel Democratic turnout in those essential battleground states into the elections to come.
Historically, black women have been among the most consistent voters in the Democratic coalition, showing up in high numbers for former President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, and for the most part for President Joe Biden in 2020. But one indication that some of those gains were starting to slip away for Biden happened before he withdrew from the race. Since then, polls show that Black voters have moved more decisively in support of the Democratic ticket: in July, before Biden’s departure, 64% of Black voters supported him; this figure jumped to 77% in August with Harris on the ticket.
Black voter turnout, particularly in rural areas of states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, may prove crucial for Harris’s likely win. People started showing more interest, especially the Black women, after Biden left office. “It’s like a renaissance,” said Holli Holliday, president of Sisters Lead Sisters Vote. She claimed it was almost an organized effort by different organizations in bringing the voting strength of Black women to the fore.
Indeed, issues of gun safety are the most significant imperative in Georgia, especially given the unfortunate shooting incidents that have occurred recently, like the one at Apalachee High School, which has heightened concerns regarding violence. In August, 82% of Black women favored Harris, a 15-point increase from 67% in May. In addition, nearly 70% said they were very excited to vote, up from 51% in July.
As the election approaches, Harris’s focus on healthcare for mothers rings true in the ears of the Black woman voter. In addressing head-on alarming maternal mortality rates, where Black women are three times more likely to die in pregnancy-related complications than their white peers, advocating for policies that might better improve maternal health has gained her ample support.
Trump has also attempted to inch out his way to victory by appealing to Black women; however, after listening to Republican speeches, only 8% believe that the party is acting in their best interest. Harris’s position on gun reform, specifically in her calls for universal background checks and an assault weapons ban, also makes her more appealing to a plurality of that group, as 84% are more likely to favor Harris over Trump’s position.
Indeed, following Biden’s withdrawal from the race, Harris coalesced an impressive coalition of Black women leaders, with initiatives like the Win With Black Women network helping to facilitate large-scale engagement. This newfound enthusiasm might prove critical, especially in close elections in which every vote counts: seven states were won in 2020 by less than three percentage points; mobilizing Black women voters might be critical to Democratic victories in the next election cycle.
