Don’t Blame Us: 2024 Election Exit Polling Among Black Voters

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Vice President Kamala Harris took on Donald Trump in the super-tight presidential election on Tuesday night, and voters flocked to the polls.

As the nation reflects on the results of the 2024 election, the choices of Black voters are once again at the forefront of post-election conversations.

Black Americans, time and time again, have shown up, pushing forward the issues that matter most to them and helping shape the country’s direction.

This time around, topics like the economy, women’s reproductive rights, and the future of America took center stage and exit polls give us a window into what drove Black voters to the polls. It also provides us with a glimpse into how they weighed in on pressing issues.

Throughout the election cycle, pundits filled our screens with discussions about the Black vote—especially the Black male vote—and how Kamala Harris was reportedly losing traction with them.

But, exit polling from Black voters was almost identical to what they were in 2020.

Nationally, 86% of Black voters voted for Kamala Harris, and only 12% cast their ballots for Donald Trump, according to CNN exit polls. In 2020, Biden got 87% of the Black vote and Trump only 12%.

Black women largely maintained their voting patterns from 2020, with 92% casting their ballots in support of Kamala Harris. For Black men, 78% of Black men voted for Kamala Harris, just one percentage point less than for Joe Biden in 2020.

On the topic of education, 65% of voters of color—both with and without college degrees—cast their votes for Kamala Harris.

Looking at Black voters by age continues the same trend of Black voters’ overwhelming vote for Kamala Harris. Black voters 18-19 voted 85% for Harris, Black voters 30-44 voted 83% for Harris and Black voters 65 or older voted 94% for the vice president, according to CNN exit polls.

In an era when Democrats face challenges to rally broad coalitions, the Black vote continues to act as a stabilizing force. However, if Democrats are going to grow this support, they have to address issues that matter most to the Black community. Younger generations, in particular, are growing up with a more complex political landscape, and parties have to listen and act on Black Americans’ concerns. Once again, the most consistent and coalesced voter in America is the Black voter.

So, when we talk about who lost this election, please leave Black people alone.

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