DALLAS — T.W. Shannon on Republican Momentum Among Black Voters

Despite Donald Trump not being on the ballot for the 2026 midterm elections, T.W. Shannon, the former chair of Black Voices for Trump, is optimistic about the Republicans’ ability to maintain the support from Black voters that Trump noticeably gained in the 2024 presidential race.

Shannon, who previously served as the Oklahoma state House Speaker and is now the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in Oklahoma, believes that the GOP’s policies and the Democratic Party’s shift to the left will play a significant role in attracting Black voters.

In fact, Trump managed to secure 16% of the Black vote in the 2024 election, which considerably outperformed his previous total four years prior, nearly doubling his numbers.

“Trump has transformed the Republican Party back into a party for the working class,” Shannon remarked in a recent interview during the first-ever GOP midterm convention. He highlighted the newfound competition between Democrats for Black votes, a situation that wasn’t there before, as they often overlooked this demographic.

He mentioned job creation and decreasing crime rates during Trump’s second term, stating that these positive changes resonate particularly well with Black voters and communities.

Shannon also criticized Democratic candidates affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). “They’re advocating for tax hikes and disbanding the police—these ideas simply don’t sit well within the Black community,” he noted.

However, Democrats push back against Shannon’s claims. A spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) expressed that Black Americans will likely reject Trump’s agenda in favor of Democrats committed to reducing costs and supporting working families. The DNC also emphasized its efforts to engage, register, and mobilize Black voters nationwide, asserting their commitment to protecting civil and voting rights amidst ongoing attacks from the Trump administration.

Shannon, a notable figure as Lawton’s first African American House speaker, feels confident about his chances in the upcoming election, especially in Republican-leaning Oklahoma. He expressed enthusiasm for sharing his state’s story on such a prominent platform at the convention, saying, “Any time I get a chance to tell the story about how great Oklahoma is and how great America is, I won’t miss that opportunity.”