Staff Reports
In recent news, Black voters are expressing discontent with President Biden, arguing that he has not followed through on his promises to support their community. This dissatisfaction could spell trouble for Biden’s chances of re-election in 2024, as Black voters were a pivotal part of his support base in the 2020 election. While Biden secured a whopping 92% of the Black vote in 2020, recent polls now indicate that a surprising 22% of Black voters in key battleground states are considering throwing their support behind former President Trump in a hypothetical 2024 rematch.
Biden’s eroding support from Black voters puts White House on defensehttps://t.co/fIU0YhNEB2 pic.twitter.com/mu76qtgCo5
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 28, 2023
The cause of this shift in Black voter sentiment seems to stem from a variety of issues. Many in the Black community point to the soaring prices of everyday essentials like groceries, gas, and housing, which have disproportionately impacted Black families due to pre-existing disparities in income, wealth, savings, and home ownership compared to their White counterparts. Additionally, Black workers have experienced diminished wage gains under the Biden administration, and the unemployment rate for Black workers has risen at a faster rate compared to the overall workforce.
The Biden administration has insisted that it has prioritized the needs of Black communities, citing legislative victories such as the tax and climate law and infrastructure programs as examples of their commitment to racial equity. However, many Black leaders remain unimpressed, stating that these investments have not tangibly improved the lives of African Americans. They argue that Biden’s focus on international affairs and his handling of the border crisis have further exacerbated economic challenges for the Black community.
In response to this growing disillusionment, the Biden re-election campaign has launched efforts to woo Black voters, including a significant investment in television ads targeting Black communities and a tour of historically Black colleges and universities by Vice President Kamala Harris. Additionally, the administration has emphasized its confirmation of a record number of Black judges, including the historic appointment of Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. However, critics view these efforts as tokenism, arguing that they do little to address the everyday struggles faced by Black Americans.
Furthermore, on the local level, signs of waning enthusiasm among Black voters have emerged, with lower voter turnout in predominantly Black areas, raising concerns for Democrats about the potential impact on future elections. Overall, the stance of Black voters towards President Biden appears to be shifting, posing a significant challenge to his re-election prospects in 2024.
