Opinion polls suggest that President-elect Trump enjoys strong support from historically minority voters for most of the 2024 presidential campaign. Now, the election results prove those surveys were correct.
Thousands of U.S. counties shifted to the right compared to 2020, allowing Trump to overcome his previous deficit with voters and win the national popular vote in 2024. This is a feat no Republican has been able to accomplish in 20 years. But four counties in particular highlight Mr. Trump's appeal to districts that have traditionally supported Democrats.
“Donald Trump has improved his standing among Black and Latino voters for a simple reason: He appeals directly to them, and he can vote for them,'' said Fox News political analyst Janno Caldwell. It means we've earned it.” “Presidential Republicans typically don't go to areas that aren't part of their traditional voting base. Trump won in 90% plus Latino counties, truly putting the Republican Party on the map as a multicultural party. ”
FOX News Voter Analysis: How Trump regained the White House
President Trump raises his fist as he arrives at a campaign event at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
In Passaic County in northern New Jersey, Hispanics make up 45% of the population. Trump won the county with about 50% of the vote, improving his 2020 performance by a whopping 9 percentage points. The result came as a shock to Democrats, as 2016 Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton won with 74% of the vote.
Trump's victory was even more pronounced in Starr County, Texas. The county is located on the border with Mexico, 97% of its residents are Hispanic, and it was once a Democratic stronghold. Trump flipped the county for the first time in 132 years, winning with about 57.7% of the vote, according to the Associated Press.
It was a similar story in traditionally Democratic Osceola County, where Trump won 50% of the vote to Vice President Kamala Harris' 48%. Osceola, located in central Florida just south of Disney World, is 56% Latino. voters there told Orlando FOX 35. Trump claimed he was attracted to them because of their focus on economic issues.
How Kamala Harris' failed 2024 presidential campaign reflects her ill-fated 2020 campaign
President-elect Trump won by significant margins in several traditionally Democratic counties across the country. (Fox News)
“He's been appealing to me since day one,” said voter Robert Arias. “He was a businessman and I felt he could run this country like a business.”
“Trump is a businessman,” agreed Daniel Pedraza. “He has guts.”
Trump lost Osceola County to Clinton by 25 points in 2016, but President Biden defeated Trump in the county by 14 points in 2020, FOX 35 reported. However, in 2024, it gained 7 percentage points there and turned red.
Trump will benefit some Puerto Ricans in election despite controversial 'trash' joke
Former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump dances on stage with former first lady Melania Trump, center, and son Barron Trump at the Election Night Watch Party on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nickinson)
A Fox News voter analysis showed that Trump's cross-border appeal to Democratic districts was fundamental to his success. He improved on his 2020 numbers for Hispanics (41%, +6 points), black voters (15%, +7 points) and young voters (46%, +10 points).
These shifts to the right were especially pronounced for Hispanic men (+8 points), black men (+12 points), and men under 30 (+14 points) starting in 2020.
Mr. Trump's strength with black voters was also felt in Anson County, North Carolina, where a Republican candidate won for the first time since the 1970s and just the second time in more than 100 years. Trump received 50.9% of the vote, compared to 48.2% for Harris. Black residents make up 47% of Anson County's population.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Overall, Trump improved his approval rating in 2,367 counties across the country in 2020, but lost ground in only 240 counties, according to the New York Times.
“Because of him, Republicans have an opportunity to really compete for the black vote. Because of him, it looks like Republicans will hold the Senate, the House and the White House,” Caldwell said.
The Fox News Polling Unit contributed to this report.
