Black voters, buoyed by Harris, more excited to vote in 2024 than in 2008: Poll

A majority of Black voters are just as excited or more this year as in 2008, when then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) became the first Black president, according to new polling. 

A survey from the NAACP, in partnership with HIT Strategies and Hart Research, found that 78 percent of Black voters feel the same sense of excitement as when Obama first ran, with 56 percent being more excited now than in 2008.

“This election season, we’ve witnessed a surge of enthusiasm among Black voters that we haven’t seen in some time. But we cannot be distracted — there are still voters to be reached,” said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of NAACP.

“Make no mistake, our lives depend on our votes,” Johnson added. “This November, casting our ballots will be more than just us exercising our right to vote — it is the key to the future of our culture, and our community.”

Part of the excitement comes from Vice President Harris’s historic nomination. 

Fifty-one percent of Black voters said they would cast their ballots for Harris if the election were held today. Only 27 percent said the same of former President Trump.  

But gender and generational disparities persist among Black voters. 

While 79 percent of women over the age of 50 said they would vote for Harris, 66 percent of men over 50 said the same. Only 56 percent of voters aged 18-49 said the same. 

Most respondents say their view of Harris had grown over the past month — 59 percent said they viewed her more favorably, compared to 13 percent who said their view had grown less favorable — but that wasn’t true among undecided voters. Within that group, 25 percent said their view was less favorable than a month ago, and 14 percent said it was more favorable.

“As part of our massive civic engagement program, we’re targeting both frequent and low propensity voters, especially those in densely populated Black communities,” said Phaedra Jackson, NAACP vice president of unit advocacy and effectiveness.

The survey also identified Black voters’ top three issues as lowering inflation and the cost of living, issues of crime and safety, and issues of access to health. 

More than half of Black voters said the highest priority for elected leaders should be protecting rights and freedoms. 

The research is part of a multimillion-dollar civic engagement program targeting 14.5 million voters across 12 priority states where Black voters hold significant electoral power. 

“The soul of this nation is on the ballot in November,” Jackson said. “We want Black communities to understand what’s at stake and take action.”