Women of color are fueling Kamala Harris’ current lead in the polls, new data shows.
The 19th, an independent nonprofit newsroom, released new, in-house polling conducted Aug. 26 through Sept. 4 which indicates a three-point lead for Harris over former President Donald Trump, with 44% of registered voters backing the Democratic presidential candidate and 41% backing the once-again Republican nominee.
The data also revealed a significant gender gap in support for the two candidates. In all, 48% of women support Harris, while 47% of men said they will cast a ballot for Trump in November. This marks a notable contrast between the amount of men who support Harris (39%) and women who support Trump (35%).
Women across every racial and ethnic group expressed their preference for Harris to The 19th — in particular, Black, Latina and Asian-American Pacific Islander women. Further, across both sexes, Harris has so far garnered more support from both the oldest and youngest groups of voters, along with strong interest from the LGBTQ community.
As more polling gets published, a political gender gap is becoming increasingly transparent. For example, the Brookings Institution published a report earlier this year which found that more Gen Z women (between the ages of 18 to 29) are leaning left, while Gen Z men are leaning right. The attack on reproductive freedoms is a key component in voters’ minds, with women pushing back against patriarchal ideologies through their ballots. “When you take rights away from someone, it is so much more powerful than giving them rights,” Elaine Kamarck, lead researcher on Brookings’ report, previously told The Story Exchange.
The 19th’s new poll also reveals contrasts among the other concerns the sexes are weighing this election cycle, with women being more likely to name inflation as a major concern, followed by healthcare. Men, on the other hand, were more focused on immigration, unemployment and wages (though they, too, were concerned about rising costs of living).
While gender and race do not provide a “uniform lens” through which to view the current political landscape, they are useful metrics for assessing how people approach and evaluate politics and public policy, experts have told the Center for American Women and Politics.
Perhaps most importantly, viewing voters from this perspective can show people where momentum is coming from – and enthusiasm to vote for Harris has risen by five points among Black and AAPI women especially, from when they were first questioned about their level of excitement. It remains to be seen whether that momentum can push her over the finish line to victory.
