Standing outside a West Philadelphia Aldi with his groceries in hand, Aaron Bryant, a local resident, shared something unexpected: he didn’t vote in the recent election. But if he had, he said he would have probably cast his ballot for President-elect Donald Trump. Why? "I believe he was the best person for the job," Bryant explained. "The economy was much better when he was in office, too."
While Bryant's viewpoint may seem surprising to some, it reflects a broader shift that’s been quietly happening in Philadelphia over recent years, particularly in neighborhoods of color. For context, Trump’s most loyal supporters in Philadelphia historically came from the city’s majority-white districts. But this most recent election revealed something more significant: a growing movement of Black and Latino voters leaning toward the right, a trend that has been brewing since 2016.
A Surprising Shift in the City of Brotherly Love
In Philadelphia, the shift towards the Republican side isn’t solely due to a surge in Republican support among voters of color. It’s also about low voter turnout in predominantly Black and Hispanic areas. Take West Philadelphia’s Mill Creek neighborhood, for example, where Bryant lives. Despite being a predominantly Black area, voter participation in this neighborhood was notably low, and that lack of turnout had a significant impact. Bryant, who has never voted, is part of the very demographic that the Democratic Party has historically relied upon, yet the party’s failure to turn out these voters may have played a role in Trump’s stronger-than-expected performance in the city.
An analysis of election results from the Inquirer reveals a striking trend: in 649 of the 688 majority-Black precincts in Philadelphia, Democrats performed worse than in previous years. In contrast, Trump’s vote share grew in 635 of these precincts when compared to 2020. What’s even more striking is that many of these neighborhoods, particularly those with large Black populations, had some of the lowest turnout rates in the city. Of the 22,600 people who sat out the election, about 80% lived in Black-majority precincts.
In these areas, the narrative isn’t just about Republican support growing, it’s also about voters staying home. In the neighborhoods of West and North Philadelphia, where many of these majority-Black precincts are located, voter participation dropped dramatically. In fact, three of the top five precincts with the largest drops in turnout were predominantly Black. While fewer people voted, those who did were more likely to cast their ballots for Trump, increasing his share of the vote even though the number of votes he received didn’t rise significantly.
The Politics of Disillusionment
So why didn’t more people in these communities show up to vote? A common reason among residents shopping at the Aldi in Mill Creek was a pervasive sense of distrust in the political system. Many felt that the outcome of elections was predetermined and that their votes didn’t truly matter. Cequora Jones, a 34-year-old who has never voted, summed up the sentiment: "I don’t think the citizens determine who’s gonna be in office at all, so I just don’t waste my time." When asked who she would have voted for, Jones said she probably would have chosen Trump, citing social issues like her disapproval of policies surrounding unisex bathrooms as a reason for her support.
Evervine Brown, 31, echoed similar sentiments. She last voted in 2012 when Barack Obama was re-elected, but she sat out the 2020 election. Despite encouragement from friends and family to support Kamala Harris, Brown felt disconnected from the candidate, and even questioned her racial identity—a point that Trump’s campaign capitalized on to discredit Harris among some Black voters. Harris, whose father is Jamaican and mother is Indian, was often targeted by conservatives who sought to undermine her credibility among Black voters.
The Influence of Social and Cultural Issues
This election also saw more Black men casting ballots for Trump. According to exit polling data, 26% of Black men in Pennsylvania voted for Trump—a significant increase from the 10% who voted for him in 2020. Experts say this shift wasn’t driven purely by policy issues, but also by sociocultural factors, including concerns about race, immigration, and inflation.
Carnel Harley, a 51-year-old Republican leader from the 13th Ward, pointed to Trump’s criminal justice reform legislation, the First Step Act, which has been praised for its efforts to reduce sentences and improve conditions for incarcerated individuals. For some Black voters, Harley argued, Trump’s actions on criminal justice reform outweighed concerns about his other policies. He also suggested that Harris’ ties to the Biden administration, which has often been viewed unfavorably by certain segments of the Black community, may have hurt her standing with some voters.
John McAuley, a 36-year-old truck driver and conservative podcaster, said that his top priorities were lowering inflation and controlling immigration. He suggested that many Black men in Pennsylvania voted for Trump this time because they prioritized policies over race, and began seeking information through less traditional media sources, like social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter).
The Power of Messaging
Trump’s ability to reach voters of color, particularly Black men, was a key aspect of his campaign. Shawn Gamble Jr., a 26-year-old officer with the Black Conservative Federation, argued that Trump’s outreach to the Black community was unique and has grown over time. "When I first started out, [the Republican Party] was not this diverse," Gamble said. "And to see how it has grown, it’s beautiful." Many of Trump’s supporters, including Black men, said they were drawn to his focus on economic issues and his stance on immigration.
For some, though, social and cultural issues also played a role in their decision-making. Gamble noted that a family member of his, who didn’t vote in the election, was particularly impacted by ads that criticized Harris’ support for transgender rights—a stance that Trump’s campaign used to fuel opposition among conservative voters. In a climate where cultural wars are intensifying, these issues are becoming increasingly important in shaping political decisions.
A Complex Political Landscape
What this election shows is that many voters, including a significant number of Black men, aren’t voting solely on party lines. Timothy Welbeck, the director of Temple University’s Center for Anti-Racism, pointed out that much of the election wasn’t decided by concrete policy proposals but by larger themes like identity and disillusionment. "What they say they want from their elected officials is not necessarily the same thing that they will select when they step into the voting booth," he said.
D’Andra Orey, a political scientist at Jackson State University, emphasized that the Black community’s relationship with the political system is complex. Black voters, particularly Black men, often feel alienated from both major parties. Orey suggested that Trump’s outsider image resonated with these voters, as he portrayed himself as someone who wasn’t part of the establishment. Meanwhile, internalized racism and sexism also played a role in how Black men viewed Harris, with some using stereotypes about Black women to justify their disapproval.
Despite the challenges Harris faced in winning over some Black voters, she still had overwhelming support from Black women. But the nuanced picture of Black political attitudes highlights the difficulty of addressing diverse concerns within the community.
Moving Forward
As the political landscape continues to evolve, it’s clear that party loyalty is no longer as strong as it once was, especially in cities like Philadelphia. Trump’s increased support among Black men and the overall lower turnout in majority-Black neighborhoods are reminders that the electorate is far from monolithic. Whether it’s dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party, dissatisfaction with specific candidates, or concerns about the economy and social issues, voters are sending a clear message that they want to see change. Moving forward, both parties will need to engage with these voters more effectively if they hope to secure their support in future elections.
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