Harris Tops Trump Among Majority of Black Voters, Poll Says

Black registered voters have a more favorable view of Vice President Kamala Harris than former President Donald Trump, with the majority considering Harris better equipped to handle key issues, a recent poll found.

Two-thirds of Black voters believe Harris would make a good president, while three-quarters think Trump would not, according to a recent poll conducted by the Associated Press and NORC, at the University of Chicago.

Both male and female Black voters express similar views on the candidates, with older voters over age 45 being more supportive of Harris and more critical of Trump compared to younger voters aged 18-44.

The poll reveals that 67% of Black voters identify as Democrats or lean Democratic, while only 10% align with Republicans. Independents make up 23% of the demographic, but the sample size is too small to analyze their views separately.

Key issues for Black voters include the economy and health care, though female voters are more likely than males to prioritize abortion (63% vs. 42%) and gun policy (76% vs. 56%). On abortion policy, 74% of Black voters see Harris as better suited to handle the issue compared to just 6% who favor Trump.

Harris also holds an advantage in representing voters’ background and culture, with 81% of those who consider race central to their identity saying Harris better reflects their experience. Harris also leads Trump in representing voters’ views on age and religion.

While Black voters view Trump more favorably on the economy and immigration than other issues, only about one in five trust him over Harris on these topics, the poll said.

The survey, conducted from Sept. 12-16, 2024, included 1,771 registered voters, 477 of whom were Black. The margin of error for Black voters is +/- 6.1 percentage points.