Poll Shows Biden Losing Support Among Black Voters In Key States

President Joe Biden’s support among Black voters in the critical battleground states of Pennsylvania and Michigan has significantly declined, according to a recent USA Today/Suffolk University poll. The survey, conducted between June 9 and June 13, reveals a notable drop in Biden’s approval from Black voters compared to the 2020 elections.

In Pennsylvania, only 56.2% of Black voters indicate they would vote for Biden today, a decrease of 20 percentage points from those who say they supported him four years ago. Similarly, in Michigan, 54.4% of Black voters express support for Biden, down 22 percentage points from 2020.

This decline in support poses a significant challenge for Biden’s re-election campaign. David Paleologos, director of Suffolk’s Political Research Center, noted that while there is potential for Biden to win back some third-party voters, the president faces the difficult task of retaining a high level of support from 2020 while having limited room to increase it.

The poll also shows a slight increase in support for former President Donald Trump among Black voters. In Pennsylvania, 10.8% of Black voters back Trump, up from about 8% in 2020. In Michigan, 15.2% support Trump, compared to 9% in the previous election. The data highlights a gender disparity, with 16% of Black men in Pennsylvania supporting Trump compared to 6% of Black women. In Michigan, 22% of Black men back Trump, versus 9% of Black women.

Third-party candidates also show notable support. In Pennsylvania, 16.4% of Black voters favor a third-party candidate: 7.6% support independent Cornel West, 7.4% back independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 1% support Green Party candidate Jill Stein, and 0.4% favor Libertarian Chase Oliver. Michigan’s results are similar, with Kennedy receiving 8% support, West 6.2%, Stein 1%, and Oliver 0.2%. Additionally, 13.8% of Black voters in both states remain undecided.

The poll included 500 Black voters in both Pennsylvania and Michigan and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. These findings indicate a crucial shift in voter sentiment that could impact the upcoming election.