(NewsNation) — Black voters were a critical force in helping President Joe Biden win the office in the 2020 election, but support for him has been slipping among the crucial demographic, leaving other candidates to try to win them over.
Recent polling shows Black voters still favor Biden, who has a 59-point lead over former President Donald Trump. But that number falls short of the 75-point lead he held over Trump in the 2020 race.
Ja’Ron Smith, former deputy assistant on the Domestic Policy Council under Trump, told NewsNation he doesn’t think Biden has kept his promises to Black voters and that could make a difference in November.
“One, you want to have a number of a record number of Black Americans that’s going to vote Republican. And two, you have a record number of African Americans that’s probably gonna stay home, and both do not bode well for President Biden,” he said.
While Black voters are not a monolith, they are a powerful force when it comes to turning elections. While the Black vote has traditionally solidified around Democrats, Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas and his failure to call for a cease-fire in Gaza have alienated some who would traditionally vote blue.
Trump has moved to try to attract Black voters, though his efforts have been met with criticism. He recently claimed Black voters would relate to him because he is being discriminated against by the legal system.
Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley called Trump’s remarks “disgusting” and warned they were a sign of chaos to come if Trump were to once again win the GOP nomination.
While some Black Americans may not resonate with Trump’s remarks, Smith said there are others who will understand frustration with the justice system.
“President Trump helped get 30,000 people home from prison all through the First Step Act. And those people they touch 100 different people,” he said.
On the Democratic side, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., officially running as an independent, is attempting to lure Black supporters away from Biden with a series of roundtables at Black churches and courting Black entertainers.
As all candidates try to lure critical voting blocks, upcoming primaries may give more insight into whether Black voters are motivated to turn out for the next election.
