Just a week after President Joe Biden withdrew from the US presidential race, his deputy Kamala Harris emerged as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination with endorsements from key party leaders, including former President Barack Obama. Other notable Democrats backing Harris, 59, include House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. If confirmed as the Democratic Party’s official presidential nominee, Harris, a former California prosecutor, could potentially become the first woman and first African American-Indian candidate to make it to the White House. Harris recently selected Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, as her running mate. Recent polls indicate Biden has been losing Black voters, with only 77 percent indicating they would choose him over Republican nominee Donald Trump for president. The history of Black voter support for the Democratic Party dates back to Franklin D Roosevelt’s presidency, where the party received the majority of Black votes. In the 1964 election, Lyndon B Johnson secured 94 percent of the Black vote due to his advocacy for civil rights legislation. Over the years, Black voter support for Democrats has fluctuated, with some recent polls showing an increase in Black voters leaning towards Trump since Harris entered the race. Harris has garnered significant support from Black leaders, including Representative Jim Clyburn and Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. Challenges for the Harris campaign may include inheriting criticisms of Biden’s policies and addressing issues such as the economy and immigration. Despite these challenges, Harris has seen a surge in donations and support, indicating a potential turnaround in Black voter support ahead of the November election.
