A recent USA Today/Suffolk University poll reveals a significant drop in President Joe Biden’s support among Black voters in Pennsylvania and Michigan, two key battleground states. The survey, conducted from June 9 to June 13, shows a noticeable decline in Biden’s approval compared to the 2020 election results.
In Pennsylvania, 56.2% of Black voters currently support Biden, a decrease of 20 percentage points from those who said they voted for him four years ago. In Michigan, Biden’s support among Black voters stands at 54.4%, down 22 percentage points from the 2020 election.
David Paleologos, director of Suffolk’s Political Research Center, emphasized the challenge Biden faces in retaining his 2020 support levels while having little opportunity to expand his base. The poll indicates that approximately 15% of Black voters in both states are inclined to support a third-party candidate.
Former President Donald Trump has seen a slight increase in support among Black voters. In Pennsylvania, 10.8% of Black voters back Trump, up from about 8% in 2020. In Michigan, 15.2% support Trump, compared to 9% in the previous election. There is a significant gender gap in support, with 16% of Black men in Pennsylvania favoring Trump compared to 6% of Black women. In Michigan, 22% of Black men back Trump, versus 9% of Black women.
Third-party candidates are also attracting attention. In Pennsylvania, 16.4% of Black voters support a third-party candidate: 7.6% favor independent Cornel West, 7.4% back independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 1% support Green Party candidate Jill Stein, and 0.4% favor Libertarian Chase Oliver. In Michigan, Kennedy receives 8% support, West 6.2%, Stein 1%, and Oliver 0.2%. Additionally, 13.8% of Black voters in both states remain undecided.
The poll, which surveyed 500 Black voters in each state, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. These findings suggest a critical shift in voter support that could influence the upcoming election.
