Behind the Republican Effort to Win Over Black Men

[Celerity]

The party is trying to make inroads with Black voters, a key demographic for Democrats, which could swing the 2024 election.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/10/us/politics/2024-election-gop-black-men-voters.html

https://archive.ph/B2kb0

Akbar Muslim, 61, of Philadelphia, at an event with Wesley Hunt, Republican of Texas, and Byron Donalds, Republican of Florida, at The Cigar Code in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Credit...Heather Khalifa for The New York Times

Two Black Republican House members and Trump surrogates reserved a cigar bar near downtown Philadelphia last week and invited conservative organizers and Trump-curious Black voters to smoke and sip cognac. Some Democrats denounced it as a crass play, rooted in stereotype. But the event was geared toward a demographic that Republicans — and especially former President Donald J. Trump’s campaign — see as one they can cut into just enough to win in November: Black men.

Byron Donalds, Republican of Florida, left, speaks next to Wesley Hunt, Republican of Texas, during their event at The Cigar Code in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Credit...Heather Khalifa for The New York Times

Republicans, pointing to recent polls that show Black voters’ support for Democrats softening, are making a push to win the votes of Black men, an important part of the Democratic base that has shown openness to voting for Mr. Trump. The effort has led to a series of awkward — and what some say are offensive — episodes of political theater. Mr. Trump has marketed gold sneakers to young men of color. He has suggested that his conviction on felony charges makes him more relatable to Black voters. And he has campaigned with rappers facing charges of gang murder and weapons possession. Mr. Trump’s allies say that his critics are missing the point: The Republican Party, which was nearly 60 percent white as recently as 2022, according to exit polls, isn’t trying to appeal to every Black voter. It needs just enough Black support to undermine President Biden’s bedrock coalition.

Donald J. Trump held a campaign rally in the Bronx in May. Credit...Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

“We’re not going to get everyone. The goal here is not to get the majority,” said Representative Wesley Hunt of Texas, the co-host of the cigars-and-cognac event. “The goal here is to get to that 25 to 30 percent of the Black male vote.” That notion, once considered far-fetched, is not out of the question now. A May New York Times/Siena College poll of battleground states showed 23 percent of Black voters supporting Mr. Trump, a record level. The former president won roughly 12 percent support from Black men in 2020, according to exit polls. And a Pew Research Center report in April showed a slight uptick in Black men who identify as Republican in 2024 compared to 2020. If the G.O.P. can build on those gains over the next few months, Mr. Hunt added, “This election is going to be over.”

The Trump campaign has pushed conservative messages on the economy and immigration as issues that are directly relevant to Black voters. Credit...Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

Mr. Hunt said the campaign was targeting disaffected Black and Latino voters who are frustrated with politics and specifically with the Democratic Party, which has counted Black voters among its most loyal voting blocs for decades. It has pushed conservative messages on the economy and immigration as issues that are directly relevant to Black voters. Republicans have announced a blitz of initiatives aimed at delivering this message. Mr. Hunt and Representative Byron Donalds, a Republican of Florida — who co-hosted the event and has been discussed as a potential running mate for Mr. Trump — said they planned to arrange more gatherings for Black voters in battleground states this year. Senator Tim Scott, a Republican of South Carolina, announced that his PAC would lead a $14 million initiative to persuade Black and Latino voters to support Republicans.

snip

[wryter2000]

1. Why not rename NYT the MAGA Times?

All Trump, all the time.

[WarGamer]

2. Which is why Trump may go with Tim Scott as VP...

But he has to weigh the + and - of choosing a black man with the rest of his base... and if a woman like Tulsi or Stefanik might draw in more voters...

I personally think he gains NOTHING by going with Vance, Rubio, Stefanik... Noem is toxic, Haley wouldn't be an option.

So I think it's Tulsi to throw a curveball... or Scott if he things the + outweighs the -

[brush]

3. Let 'em keep trying. Parading Rep. Donalds around to talk about the "great times" Black people enjoyed during...

the jim crow era will do it every time (what an idiot. So glad he's not in the Democratic Party spewing that crappola).

I don't think the sarc gif is really necessary, but here it is.

[Joinfortmill]

4. WTF?Vote for us, but remember we're better than you.

[LiberalFighter]

5. Probably just those that had voted for him before

[tman]

6. Trump only needs to peel off a few percent of the black vote to win

because not enough of the white vote is anti trump.


It's going to be close, folks.