Vice President Kamala Harris appears to have only increased support among white college-educated voters compared to President Joe Biden’s exit polls from 2020. However, she lost ground with voters of color who hold college degrees, as well as voters of color who do not have a degree. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump made gains among several key demographics, including Latino voters, where he gained 14 points compared to Harris winning by just 6 points. Trump also won over working-class families making under $50,000 annually, swinging that group toward him by 3 points.
Following the election results, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders criticized the Democratic Party for ignoring working-class Americans, whom he believes have now abandoned the party. Sanders accused the Democratic leadership of defending the status quo while the American people are clamoring for change. He emphasized the need for the party to reconnect with working-class individuals who feel disenfranchised and overlooked by the current political system. Harris’ campaign has not released any comments in response to these accusations, but has faced backlash from within the party over issues of elitism.
A notable critique came from the Philadelphia Democratic Chair, Bob Brady, who expressed frustration over the lack of communication between the Harris campaign and the local party. Brady felt that the campaign had been elitist in its approach, failing to engage with and include key party members in their efforts. In response, a spokesperson for Harris’ team pointed out their campaign’s extensive outreach efforts, including knocking on over two million doors in the lead-up to Election Day. The spokesperson criticized Brady’s fundraising strategy and leadership, indicating a need for reshaping campaign practices moving forward.
Overall, the analysis of exit polling data suggests that Harris may have made modest gains among certain demographic groups, such as white voters with college degrees, while facing setbacks with voters of color and working-class families. Trump’s ability to resonate with Latino voters and working-class Americans underscores a potential shift in political dynamics that could influence future elections. The Democratic Party, according to Sanders and other critics, must address these changes and realign its priorities to better connect with a wider range of voters to remain competitive in future contests.
