HOUSTON — These two Black voters flipped in opposite directions in the 2024 election. This shows how former President Trump has shaken his old party loyalties.
George Smith, 67, said he voted for Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday because he thinks she is the best economic candidate.
Meanwhile, Johnny Mitchell, 47, said he fully supports Trump because he believes the former president's goal is to “unite the country and leave it better than before.”
While Trump has made strides in winning more votes from the black community, Smith told the Post that he is unconvinced by his advocacy efforts and has encouraged fellow black men to support Trump. He urged people not to vote.
“I want to talk to Black men right now… There's a rumor that you guys don't want to get behind Kamala Harris. This is a sister and we need to support her,” Smith said. Said.
“The first day he [Trump] He wants the police to commit brutality, bloodshed, and brutality against us. We are already being targeted and that needs to change. “We don't have to vote for people who want to harm us,” he said.
Mitchell said his vote goes beyond the color of his skin.
“More than just a color issue, I personally believe that if Kamala had been the best candidate to begin with, President Biden would have supported her from the beginning and brought her to the forefront. “I believe the economy was in a better place when I was in office,” Mitchell said.
Both Smith and Mitchell voted in deep-blue Harris County, Texas, which President Biden won in 2020 with 56% of the vote.
More than 100,000 voters turned out in the pouring rain Tuesday morning. According to the Houston Chronicle.
Four years ago, Democrats had the support of nearly 90% of the black community, but the tide is slowly beginning to turn. A New York Times/Siena College poll released last month found that about 15% of likely black voters said they would vote for Trump, up 6 points from 2020 for the 45th presidential candidate. .
In Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Black voters supported Trump at 22%, up from 8% in 2020.
Mark Fisher, who co-founded the Black Lives Matter chapter in Rhode Island, recently announced his support for Trump after being a lifelong Democrat.
“We've been used and abused by that party for too long. They don't value our votes,” Fisher said. “Their policies are fundamentally racist policies. I think they're a racist party. Donald Trump is just the opposite. He'll tell you what that looks like. He I’m going to tell you that straight.”
“Mr. Trump has done more for the black community than any president I can think of in my lifetime,” he continued.
Also at the polls Tuesday was Serena Hall, who was voting for the first time in her life. She told the Post it was an “emotional” moment. Hall, a 26-year-old Hispanic woman, voted for Trump because she was concerned about the economy.
“There is no doubt that the economy is the biggest issue. The prices of everything are only going up and these poor families can't even afford to buy anything. It's my first time voting so it will definitely have a huge impact on everything. . It's very moving and very moving to be able to do this,'' Hall said.
“Now I live alone, pay my own bills, take care of myself, but as I get older I understand this economy and how bad it is. Now you can. Go, Trump!”
