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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Democratic Party owes black female voters a big thank you
The Democratic Party owes black female voters a big thank you
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Democrat Vi Lyles celebrates her victory in the Charlotte mayoral race with her granddaughters, Hailey Young, left, and Arya Alexander, on Nov. 7, 2017. (Jeff Siner/AP)
There are many reasons Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 presidential election, but a lack of support from black women isnt one of them. According to exit polls, more than 90 percent of black women voted for Clinton, continuing the trend that few demographic groups are as faithful to the Democratic Party as African American women. But after the 2016 election, the demographics confidence in the Democratic National Committee wasnt as high as the party began focusing their attention on courting white working class voters.
The Washington Posts Vanessa Williams previously reported:
Black women have been the most loyal supporters of the Democratic Party, through thick and thin, Avis Jones-DeWeever, an adviser to the Black Womens Roundtable, said during Septembers Congressional Black Caucus conference. She said the party has focused more on wooing back white male voters who have not supported the Democratic Party for 50 years rather than watering the garden in your own back yard.
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But despite these frustrations, there should not have been much doubt about how black women would respond on Election Day particularly in the age of Trump. Activists and influencers hope Tuesdays election results will encourage party leaders to support policies that benefit black women and not ignore them for demographics that have been less faithful to the left. After all, support from black women was key in multiple races, including the much-watched Virginia governors race, where Democrat Ralph Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie, who ran on Trump-style nationalism.
And no other demographic group supported New Jersey Gov.-elect Phil Murphy at higher percentages than black women, according to exit polls.
Link to tweet
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/11/09/the-democratic-party-owes-black-women-voters-a-big-thank-you/?utm_term=.a9be43a89b9e
LisaM
(27,811 posts)We must never take this voting bloc for granted, never. Women of color are one of the Dems best assets and I'm deeply proud to be on the same side.
Skittles
(153,160 posts)irisblue
(32,975 posts)Happyhippychick
(8,379 posts)Thank you thank you thank you sisters!!!!
Fresh_Start
(11,330 posts)and I'd also like to extend my thanks to black males.
BumRushDaShow
(128,990 posts)The demographics cannot be ignored but I do know there are many "un-engaged" whites out there too who need to step up to the plate. These are not the folks oft-mentioned as "deplorables" or so-called politically generic "white working class". They are just average people who usually grew up in households that rarely if ever voted and so they don't either.
I know as an AA woman, I grew up in a household where my parents never missed a vote and it was just instilled in us by example that voting was not just a "right" but a consistent "habit". You just "do it" - twice a year. Not too different from households that go to church "every Sunday" as a habit.