Women at the Polls: How Female Voters Influenced the 2024 U.S. Elections

Women Voted for the Democratic Candidate, But by Smaller Margins The 2024 election saw Kamala Harris securing the female vote, but the margins were not as robust as those achieved by Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in previous elections. According to CNN's exit polling, Harris won women by just 10 points, a stark contrast to Clinton's 13-point victory in 2016 and Biden's 15-point lead in 2020. This decline raises questions about the effectiveness of the Democratic Party's outreach to women voters, especially amidst pressing issues like reproductive rights. White Women Continue to Lean Republican Historically, white women have shown a tendency to vote for Republican candidates, and this trend continued in the 2024 elections. While Harris made some inroads, losing this demographic by only 5 points compared to Trump's 11-point lead in 2020, the overall pattern remains concerning for Democrats. The data indicates that while women as a whole may prefer Democratic candidates, white women have consistently aligned with Republicans, complicating the party's strategy to win over this crucial voting bloc. Young Women and Trump's Improved Appeal One of the more surprising takeaways from the 2024 elections was Donald Trump's improved performance among young women. Despite his controversial history, Trump managed to narrow the gender gap significantly, with young women voting for Harris at a rate of 58% compared to 40% for Trump. However, this still marked an increase in support for Trump among young women from his previous campaign. The former president's outreach efforts, particularly targeting young men through social media and popular culture, seem to have resonated more than anticipated. Harris Faces Challenges Among Latino Voters Kamala Harris's support among Latino voters, particularly Latino men, proved to be a significant hurdle. While she won Latina women by 24 points, this was a dramatic decline from Clinton's 44-point lead in 2016. Latino men, who were once strong supporters of the Democratic Party, swung decisively toward Trump, with the exit polls indicating a 10-point advantage for the Republican candidate. This shift underscores the evolving political landscape among Latino voters and the need for Democrats to reassess their engagement strategies. Black Women Remain a Pillar of Democratic Support Despite the mixed results for women voters overall, Black women emerged as the most steadfast supporters of the Democratic Party, continuing a long-standing trend. Harris won their votes by an impressive 85 points, highlighting their crucial role in the party's electoral success. Furthermore, the election saw historic advancements with the election of two Black women to the Senate, further cementing their influence in American politics.