Election 2024: Can the Divided States of America find common ground?

What's most troubling about the Nov. 5 elections is the widening gap between voters of color and white voters has never been more evident.

A recent survey shows that the economy may have been an important factor, a majority of voters of color still threw their support for Kamala Harris, a Black/Asian American. The economy was also important to White voters but despite an economic plan light in specifics, they still voted for Donald Trump, who has gone through six bankruptcies and found guilty of fraud.

“Today’s findings from the 2024 American Electorate Voter Poll underscore the rising influence and civic engagement of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community," said John C. Yang, president & executive director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC).

"One in eight AANHPIs who voted in 2024 were first-time voters. Additionally, an estimated 28% of AANHPI young voters were first time voters. We’re witnessing a community whose voice is growing," said Yang.

Eleven national organizations hosted a virtual briefing on Nov. 12 to release detailed findings from the 2024 American Electorate Voter Poll, a survey of more than 9,400 voters that paints a more complete and accurate picture of how voters of color voted, including the vote choices in key states, issue priorities, evaluations of both major parties, and what issues motivated voter turnout.

The poll follows more than a decade of multi-racial election voter polls and serves as a check on traditional exit polls, adding depth to our understanding of why and how Americans voted, particularly emphasizing the vote choices and motivations of Latino, Black, AAPI, and Native American voters. A detailed array of data, including crosstabs by state and race, can be found on the poll website.

Overall, the poll shows that Americans have a lot that unites them while pointing to some clear differences between voters of color and their White counterparts on candidate choices and some policy priorities and concerns.

“Looking at this poll and all of the others we have seen, the American public opposes the Trump agenda of mass deportation, separation of families, and his promises to ‘un-document’ and deport some with current legal status, like Dreamers and TPS holders," said Vanessa Cárdenas, executive director at America’s Voice.

"Trump does not have a mandate for mass deportations or sending in the military to round up our immigrant neighbors," continued Cardenas. "While Trump undoubtedly centered his campaign and closing argument on ugly immigration themes, including the promised ‘largest deportation operation in history,’ the American public nonetheless prefers legalization for undocumented immigrants instead of mass deportation.”

AANHPI voters were engaged in the November campaigns and election.

KEY FINDINGS FROM THE 2024 AMERICAN ELECTORATE VOTER POLL

• Voters were heavily concerned about the economy this election cycle, with the cost of living, housing affordability, and jobs showing up as among the most important issues for voters of color.  More than half (55%) of voters cited the cost of living and inflation as one of the top three issues they want the next Congress and Presidential Administration to address. One in four voters, including 41% of Black voters, 38% of AAPI voters, 43% of Latino voters, and 36% of Native American voters, said the economy was the primary motivation for their vote. 
• A majority of voters of color supported Vice President Harris, while majorities of White men and women voters supported Donald Trump. That said, Trump made gains among almost all demographics, though the narrative about voters of color shifting support to Trump/Republicans was significantly overblown. Across the board, voters of color voted for Harris over Trump by significant margins, with 84% of Black voters, 62% of Latino voters, 61% of AAPI voters, and 57% of Native American voters supporting her in this election. Conversely, 57% of White voters supported Donald Trump.
• Abortion was once again a strong motivating factor–for women across race and ethnicity and for voters of color across gender, age, and subgroup. These voters are sending a clear message that they don’t want the government making reproductive health decisions for women and families. Three out of four voters support a federal law that guarantees access to abortion and gives women control over their own medical decisions, with even higher support among Black (84%), AAPI (75%), Latino (70%) and Native American (84%) voters. 
• Voters of all races and ethnicities strongly support expanding abortion access, investing in clean energy, creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and protecting voting rights. More than four out of five voters support expanding clean energy investments to create more manufacturing jobs in the United States, lower energy costs, and protect families against the impacts of climate change. Almost nine in ten voters support passing a new voting rights act to ensure all eligible American citizens can vote without barriers.
• Voters reject calls to institute mass deportation and inhumane treatment of immigrants. Voters expressed strong support for legislative action to protect Dreamers and other immigrants who have lived in the US for a long time from deportation, with nearly two out of three voters (63%) expressing support for passing a law to provide permanent legal status to Dreamers and other undocumented immigrants who have lived in the country for a long time.

A wide range of national organizations sponsored the poll, including the American Civil Liberties Union, America’s Voice, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, The Asian American Foundation, Climate Power, First Nations Development Institute, the Hispanic Federation, Indivisible, La Brega Y Fuerza Fund, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, RuralOrganizing.org, SEIU, Somos Votantes, UnidosUS, Voter Participation Center, and Voto Latino.

The question for the future is, can the two Americas come together to preserve democracy and stop the slide to authoritarianism? Can the Harris supporters who sought change and the discomfort that comes with questioning and seeking, come together with Trump MAGAists who fear change and want to return to the perceived security of the past offered by status quo's singular path to the future?

While America's uncertain future is at a crossroad, what is certain is that AANHPI will play a role in answering those questions?

"What these polls show us is that the AANHPI community is speaking with clarity and conviction:," Yang concludes."We are here to build a country that reflects our values—one that protects our families, ensures our rights, rejects hate, and champions equal opportunity for all."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.