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Black Voters Want Dems To Go On Offense On DEI & Civil Rights
A new poll conducted by 2040 Strategy Group found Black voters have low approval of Trump’s performance thus far, and are turned off by the administration’s attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and efforts to curtail civil rights.
What do Black voters approve of? Democrats protecting civil rights and DEI, with 67% saying that defending against Trump’s attacks on DEI should be a central priority for Democrats. However, the poll showed that 1 in 4 Black voters are skeptical that Democrats will effectively connect with the Black community in the coming era.
The implication, therefore, is that as Democrats formulate their opposition strategy, the Party should devote energy to launching a coordinated fight to protect DEI programs and civil rights. After the party lost 2 million Black voters last election cycle, this provides a path for Democrats to re-earning the trust of a vital voting bloc, giving them a chance for victory in 2026, 2028, and beyond.
Poll: No Honeymoon Phase For Trump With Black Voters
- Only 25% of Black voters approve of Trump (compared to 47% of the electorate at large). A large plurality (41%) strongly disapproves.
- 64% say that Trump’s policy agenda is hostile to Americans who aren’t white; Even self-identified Trump supporters are evenly split (41% agree v. 41% disagree) on this question.
Poll: Black Voters Support DEI
- Overall, Black Americans agree (by a 74%-10% margin) that DEI programs are important to achieve full equality in the United States.
- 71% agree (vs 11% disagree) that Trump’s attacks on DEI make race relations worse.
- Majorities also agree that Trump’s attacks on DEI are a threat to their personal well-being (63% agree v 18% disagree).
Path Forward
Black Americans are overwhelmingly unsupportive of Trump’s actions in his first three weeks in office. However, they remain skeptical of Democrats’ ability to oppose Trump and deliver broadly. Therefore, it is crucial Democrats begin using credible messengers to identify specific harms in the Trump-Republican agenda targeting Black life—including making racist attacks on DEI a centerpiece of their messaging strategy. This represents an opportunity for Democrats to reconnect with this base by clarifying the contrast between the two parties and the stakes of the fight.
The future of the Democratic Party hinges on how it pushes back on Trump on civil rights and DEI. By investing in stabilizing their coalition in key constituencies, including young people and Black Americans, through sophisticated, competent messaging and position-taking they can turn around the trends of the 2024 election cycle.
A graphic presentation with similar information covered in this report is available on 2040’s website.
About this poll
This analysis is based on a poll of 979 Black respondents, and was collected between February 5 and 7, 2025. All estimates are weighted on age, sex, income, education, and partisanship to estimate a nationally representative sample of Black adult residents. The margin of error for whole-sample point estimates is approximately +/- 3 percent, larger for subsets. More detailed cross-tabulations of select segments or other outcome questions are available upon request.
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Contact Morgan Snyder, morgan@newheightscommunications.com, for press inquiries on this data.
2040 Strategy Group is a boutique consulting firm that provides evidence-based insights to political candidates, progressive organizations, and private-sector companies. Our team has decades of practical and academic experience and expertise in voting behavior, public policy, and rigorous research methods. We have a particular strength in providing insights about diverse communities and organizations. Our philosophy is rooted in a knowledge that sophisticated short- and long-term strategies will be required to successfully navigate the dramatic social and natural changes that will transform our world between today and 2040. For more information, visit 2040strategygroup.com or email info@2040strategygroup.com.