A recent poll of registered Black voters, conducted by BlackPAC shows that this crucial voting bloc remains tuned in and ready to engage in both the 2020 Democratic primary and general election.
The following data show key lessons for candidates, campaigns and the progressive grassroots infrastructure.
“Black voters are looking for bold, progressive solutions to concerns they’ve vocalized time and again,” said Adrianne Shropshire, BlackPAC Executive Director. “They’re also highly engaged and ready to vote in both the primary and general election. With an overwhelming majority saying our country is on the wrong track, Black voters want Trump out of office, but the conversation does not end there. Voters are looking for a candidate who understands their issues and will act to solve them. A strong disapproval of Trump is far from enough to motivate and mobilize voters. In order to win the nomination and the general election, Democratic candidates must show they are engaging early and often, listening to Black voters’ concerns and incorporating them into policy solutions.”
Key Takeaways from BlackPAC’s Findings:
Black voter enthusiasm remains high for both the general election and the Democratic primary contest.
- 75% of Black voters say that they are paying close attention to what is happening in politics and with the pending election.
- 90% of Black voters identify as likely to vote in 2020, with 82% saying they are definitely going to vote.
- 82% identify as likely to vote in the Democratic primary process.
The Democratic field of Presidential primary candidates has shifted since our last poll in April, but Vice President Biden remains the top choice of Black voters.
- Joe Biden earns the vote of 38% Black voters overall, and a notable 44% of those who identify as Democrats or Independents and say they are definitely going to vote in the Democratic primary or caucus in their state.
- Joe Biden is also the top second choice for Booker, Sanders and Warren supporters.
Healthcare, Jobs and the Economy, and Racism and Discrimination remain the top 3 issue concerns for Black voters.
- 43% of Black voters identified health care as a critical issue. Jobs and the Economy (39%) and Racism and Discrimination (34%) round out the top tier of issues.
- Critical second tier issues include Education (18%), the Environment and Climate (17%), Police Accountability (16%), Common Sense Gun Reform (15%), Reducing Crime and Violence (15%), Housing (11%), Women’s Reproductive Rights (11%), Immigration Reform (11%), Criminal Justice Reform (10%), Voting Rights (8%) and LGBTQ rights (4%).
Party identification continues to be a long-term challenge for Democrats with Gen Z voters.
- Of Gen Z (18-24) voters, only 35% identify as a strong Democrat, with 17% identifying as weak Democrats, and 13% identifying as Independents who lean Democrat.
Contrary to the perception of Black voters as “pragmatic” and suspect of “pie-in-the-sky” policy proposals, Black voters overwhelming support progressive policies including Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, reparations, a wealth tax and free college tuition.
- 76% of Black voters favor free tuition at public colleges and with just 16% opposed.
- 73% of Black voters favor taxing people with extreme wealth through an annual wealth tax with just 17% opposed with strong support among Warren and Booker voters (82%).
- 71% of Black voters favor providing reparations for the descendants of enslaved Black Americans with just 15% opposed, including 66% support from Black voters with an immigrant background.
- 65% of Black voters favor Medicare for All with just 21% opposed. Support is stronger with voters age 40-55 (73%) and Warren supporters (74%).
- 57% of Black voters favor the Green New Deal to address climate change with just 17% opposed. Support is stronger with voters age 56- 64 (65%) and Warren supporters (69%).
Donald Trump continues to be a historically unpopular figure with Black voters who are likely to vote in 2020.
- 78% of likely Black voters have an unfavorable opinion of Trump.
- 84% rate his job as president negatively.
- 81% of likely voters say the country is on the wrong track.
Black voters are clear in their desire to see Trump removed from office either through the impeachment process or the 2020 election.
- 87% expressed that they will vote for the Democratic nominee in November 2020.
- The vast majority of Black voters wants Trump impeached and removed from office (77%), although there is little faith that the Senate will convict him and that he will actually leave office before his term ends (11%). Black voters show little confidence in Republican leadership but give higher marks to Democrats in the House.
- 80% of voters have a negative view of Republican Senate leadership with 71% viewing House Democrats positively.
- 57% of Black voters view Speaker Nancy Pelosi favorably in contrast to a 45% unfavorable rating for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Methodology
The findings are from an online survey among 800 Black registered voters nationwide for BlackPAC by Normington, Petts & Associates. Respondents were recruited from a nationwide online voter panel. The survey was conducted November 21-27, 2019. The margin of error is ±3.5 percentage points. Data was weighted by sex, age, ethnicity, education level, 9-way census region and likelihood to vote in the November 2020 general election to better reflect the composition of registered Black voters.
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