Black voters are split on whether to replace Biden. Opinions vary widely within the community on this issue.
The debate over President Joe Biden’s reelection bid continues to intensify, with prominent Black Democratic lawmakers urging Black voters to rally behind him despite concerns about his age and mental acuity.
However, polling suggests that Black voters are divided over keeping Biden on the ticket, with a plurality (47%) believing someone else should be the Democratic nominee.
The issue is complex, with some Black voters viewing Biden as the best candidate to beat Donald Trump, while others are disappointed that the party is not elevating more diverse candidates.
Preston Mitchum, a Black Washington, D.C.-based activist and attorney, expressed his disappointment that an 81-year-old heterosexual white man is seeking a second term in the White House when Democratic strategists could be elevating racial and sexual diversity.
On the other hand, Kenya Cummings, a South Carolina housing rights organizer, believes that replacing Biden could energize voters and increase turnout. Cummings disapproves of Biden’s handling of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and believes that this turbulent period could be the right time to boot him.
“That’s the question that matters more. It’s not about whether Biden is going to be super effective in office if he wins reelection. It’s about whether this version of Biden can even win reelection,” Johnson told Capital B. “And Black voters are divided on that.”
Despite these concerns, prominent Black Democratic lawmakers like Jim Clyburn and Maxine Waters have publicly supported Biden. Clyburn told reporters, “We’re ridin’ with Biden,” while Waters dismissed concerns about the president’s age, saying, “Hell, I’m older than Biden… And I get up every morning, and I exercise, and I work late hours. I take care of Black people.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also supports Biden but plans to relay the reservations of some of his colleagues directly to the president. Biden faces pressure to demonstrate his viability as a leader and candidate, particularly after his disappointing debate performance.
Supporters of Biden argue that he has achieved significant accomplishments for Black Americans, boosting wages and wiping out billions in student loan debt. They also point out that he has demonstrated he can beat Trump, who is viewed as a threat to democracy by many Black voters.
However, critics like Cummings believe that Biden’s handling of certain issues, such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, has soured some Black voters on his presidency. Additionally, some Black voters are concerned about Biden’s age and mental acuity, with 47% of Black voters surveyed believing someone else should be the Democratic nominee.
The divide among Black voters is reflected in the polls, with 43% supporting Biden remaining on the ticket and 9% unsure or refusing to answer. Another July poll reached similar conclusions, with 48% of Black Democratic primary voters wanting Biden to step down and allow another Democrat to head the party’s ticket.
The debate highlights the complex opinions within the Black community regarding Biden’s candidacy and the importance of considering diverse perspectives in the Democratic party. As the election season heats up, it remains to be seen how Biden will respond to these concerns and whether he will be able to salvage his campaign.
In the meantime, prominent Democrats like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have polled as well as or slightly better than Biden among Black voters. This suggests that there are alternative candidates who could potentially energize Black voters and increase turnout.
The issue of age and mental acuity is also a concern for some Black voters, with Biden’s performance in the first presidential debate raising questions about his fitness for office. However, others believe that Biden’s experience and leadership abilities make him the best candidate to beat Trump.
