For decades, the vast majority of Black Americans were a solid voting bloc for the Democratic Party, but in the age of Donald Trump, that is changing.
The president enjoyed historically high support from Black male voters in the November election—nearly 24 percent of Black men cast a ballot for him. But a new survey found that support among that demographic for Trump has since almost doubled.
The latest National Voter Trend (NVT) survey found that 42% of Black men now approve of Trump’s job performance, according to polling firm Cygnal.
The firm’s president, Brent Buchanan, stated that the data indicates working-class, diverse voters, who were crucial to Trump’s November victory, are now showing greater optimism about the country’s future.
“Throughout the election, we highlighted just how far out of touch Democrats had become with the American public, and now after Trump’s victory and rapid action on his campaign promises, it’s clear they haven’t learned much,” Buchanan said.
“Take the ticked-off, young, diverse, working-class voters that propelled Trump to the White House for example. They were a key constituency that gave Trump an edge over Harris as white voters stayed flat in their margin for Trump,” he added.
Trump’s growing support among Black men is part of a broader trend where Democrats are losing backing from key voter groups. The poll reveals that only 40% of voters view congressional Democrats favorably, while 54% have an unfavorable opinion.
In contrast, congressional Republicans are nearly evenly divided, with 47% favorable and 48% unfavorable. John Rogers, Cygnal’s Director of Client Strategy, attributed Trump’s success in addressing major voter concerns as a key factor behind these numbers.
“Swing voters are plus seven percent in support of Trump’s efforts, led by Elon Musk, to right-size the federal government, and swing voters are plus 29 percent in support of the Trump administration’s actions on illegal immigration,” Rogers said. “In comparison, Congressional Democrats are rudderless and unpopular, with a net image of negative 14 (40% favorable/54% unfavorable) among all voters.”
Voters overall are reacting positively to Trump’s policy actions. The poll shows that inflation and the economy continue to be the top concerns for 32% of voters, with many attributing improvements in outlook to Trump’s economic policies.
Meanwhile, concerns about illegal immigration have decreased from 21% to 17% since Trump began implementing his border security measures.
Other findings in the Cygnal survey include:
Merit-Based Hiring Over DEI: 64% of voters believe government jobs should be based on merit, including 55% of Hispanics and 41% of Democrats.
Border Security Wins: 53% of voters support Trump’s strong measures to curb illegal immigration, and 55% oppose sanctuary cities that shield criminal aliens.
Declassifying JFK, RFK, and MLK Files: A majority (56%) back Trump’s executive order to release classified files related to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Tariffs on China: Half of voters approve of Trump’s 10% tariffs on Chinese imports, with 60% of recent Trump supporters in favor of the move.
Optimism Soars: The percentage of Americans who believe the country is on the wrong track has dropped by 14 points in just one month, signaling growing confidence in Trump’s leadership.
The data presents a challenging outlook for Democrats heading into the 2026 midterm elections. As the Republican Party gains ground among minority voters, especially Black and Hispanic men, the traditional Democratic coalition is beginning to fracture.
A significant portion of the “Ticked-Off, Young, Diverse, Working-Class” voter group, which leaned toward Trump in 2024, seems to be solidifying as a key part of his base.
Those voters tend to be religious, working-class, and focused on economic issues—areas where Democrats have struggled to maintain credibility, especially in recent election cycles.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
