Kamala Harris Faces Uphill Battle to Consolidate Support Among Younger and Diverse Voters

A new memo from leading Democratic groups working in battleground states reveals concerning signs for Vice President Kamala Harris's support among younger voters and voters of color. The memo highlights the critical underfunding of grassroots organizations tasked with reaching these key demographic groups, which could jeopardize the Democratic Party's chances of success in close elections.

Mobilizing the Diverse Coalitions That Delivered Victory

Concerns Over Waning Support Among Key Voter Blocs

The memo, obtained by The New York Times, suggests that while Vice President Kamala Harris's candidacy has reinvigorated the Democratic base, she has not yet fully consolidated the support of the voters of color who receive much of their information online and will be crucial in deciding close elections. Data from ProgressNow, one of the groups behind the memo, indicates that Harris is trailing President Biden's levels of support with Black, Latino, and young voters in several key battleground states, including Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. These diverse coalitions were critical to Biden's slim margins of victory in 2020, and the memo warns that any loss of support from these groups could make electing Harris in November significantly more challenging.

Underfunding of Grassroots Mobilization Efforts

The memo argues that the grassroots organizations working to reach young Black and Latino voters are critically underfunded, hampering their ability to effectively engage these crucial demographic groups. The Democratic super PAC Priorities USA and the progressive advocacy organization ProgressNow, the authors of the memo, have been at the forefront of digital turnout operations in battleground states. They express frustration with the party's donor class, who they believe have not invested enough in the work of these voter mobilization organizations, particularly in the final weeks of the presidential campaign.

The Importance of Consolidating Support Among Diverse Voters

The memo emphasizes the need for an "immediate investment in communication to these groups that is commensurate with their power in the electorate." Without such an investment, the memo warns, "electing Harris in November will become harder." The diverse coalitions that propelled Biden to victory in 2020 are seen as essential to the Democratic Party's success, and any erosion of support from these key voter blocs could have significant consequences.

Escalating Concerns from Grassroots Organizers

The memo is the latest in a series of escalations from the organizations that helped drive voter turnout in the 2020 election. The groups' frustrations with the party's donor class have been building for months, as leaders of voter mobilization organizations lament the lack of investment in their work during the final weeks of the presidential campaign. This memo serves as a wake-up call for the Democratic Party, highlighting the urgent need to address the funding gap and ensure that the diverse coalitions that delivered victory in 2020 remain engaged and energized.