The majority of women supported Kamala Harris in the recent election; however, the level of support fell short of the historic margins she required to clinch victory.
Before voting day, it was largely accepted that women across the United States would mobilize in significant numbers to cast their votes for Harris, reflecting a strong sentiment of solidarity among female voters.
As months of exhaustive polling indicated a heated contest between Harris and Donald Trump, the data also highlighted a significant gender gap that could potentially influence the outcome.
Harris’s campaign strategy heavily relied on the assumption that high engagement from women voters could compensate for anticipated losses in other demographic groups.
Unfortunately for Harris and her supporters, this optimistic expectation did not materialize.
Although a majority of women ultimately voted for Harris, the margin of support—approximately 10 points—was four points lower than Joe Biden’s performance among women in the 2020 election.
Furthermore, Democrats witnessed a concerning 10-point drop in support among Latino women and did not make any gains with non-college-educated women, who again favored Trump by a staggering 63-35 margin, as preliminary exit polls indicate.
The lack of success was not due to insufficient effort on Harris’s part.
During her extensive 15-week campaign, much of Harris’s messaging was deliberately crafted to resonate with women, prominently featuring her advocacy for abortion rights.
On the campaign trail, Harris emphasized reproductive rights as a key focus in her platform, consistently reminding the electorate of Trump’s previous comments regarding the reversal of Roe v. Wade — a ruling that had established the nationwide right to abortion.
“I will fight to restore what Donald Trump and his hand-selected Supreme Court justice took away from the women of America,” Harris passionately declared during her closing address in Washington, D.C. last week.
Her most impactful advertisements highlighted personal stories from women adversely affected by state-imposed abortion restrictions, referred to by Harris as “Trump abortion bans,” including accounts from individuals denied necessary care after experiencing miscarriages.
This approach was reminiscent of the strategy that harnessed the prevailing enthusiasm for abortion access, which played a pivotal role in the Democrats’ unexpected gains in the 2022 midterm elections.
Abortion rights remain largely popular among Americans; a Gallup poll from May indicated that only one in ten citizens believed abortion should be banned entirely.
The recent election outcomes seemed to affirm this sentiment, with seven out of ten states where abortion was on the ballot opting in favor of protecting abortion rights.
However, this widespread support for abortion did not translate into comparable backing for Harris in the election.
Experts suggest that while abortion was indeed a significant concern for women, it simply did not rise to the level of urgency necessary to sway undecided voters in Harris’s favor, stated Evan Ross Smith, a notable pollster and campaign consultant.
“Voters—particularly women—who feel most strongly about abortion are already aligned with the Democratic Party,” he noted. Nevertheless, Democrats struggled to elevate the sense of urgency surrounding abortion for women who do not currently view it as a top-tier issue.
“The abortion argument failed to resonate with non-college-educated women and did not influence them at all. Moreover, ground was lost with Latino voters,” Smith elaborated.
For many voters, the most pressing issue was the economy.
In pre-election surveys and early exit data, concerns surrounding inflation and overall affordability consistently ranked at the top of the list of voter priorities. Notably, Trump emerged as the preferred candidate among these worried voters.
Independent voter Jennifer Varvar, 51, from Grand Junction, Colorado, expressed that financial stress in recent years had deterred her from even considering a vote for Harris.
“For me and my family, we’re in a worse position now than we ever have been financially. It’s a struggle. I have three boys to put food on the table for,” she shared, attributing her vote for Trump to improved circumstances under his previous administration.
While gender did not delineate the electorate in the anticipated ways, it still played an integral role in Harris’s defeat, according to various analysts.
Many interpretations persist regarding Trump’s definitive victory; however, for some observers, one factor stands out prominently.
“I believe there is still a prevailing sexism in this country that makes it unprepared for a woman president,” argued Patti Solis Doyle, who managed Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2008, in a discussion with Politico.
Unlike Clinton, who strategically highlighted her gender and the historic implications of her campaign, Harris exhibited a notable reluctance to leverage these aspects to her advantage.
While many believe the nation is more prepared for a woman president compared to when Clinton ran in 2016, this perception continues to be a subject of debate.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in October revealed that 15% of respondents remained resistant to voting for a female president, reflecting lingering biases.
Trump’s campaign, which doubled down on traditional masculinity, may have taken advantage of these sentiments.
“He portrayed the role of president as that of a strong leader in a perilous environment, framing this as part of the job description,” remarked Smith.
“That perception constitutes one of the most challenging job descriptions for women to meet in the eyes of many Americans.”
When will US election results be announced 2024
**Interview with Evan Ross Smith, Pollster and Campaign Consultant**
**Editor**: Thank you for joining us today, Evan. Let’s dive into the recent election results and the implications for Kamala Harris’s campaign. Despite a majority of women voting for her, there seems to have been a significant decline in support compared to past elections. What do you think contributed to this phenomenon?
**Evan Ross Smith**: Thanks for having me. It’s certainly a complex issue. While Harris had a solid base of support among women, especially regarding abortion rights, that enthusiasm did not translate into the historic margins she needed to win. One key factor was the shifting priorities of voters—many women, particularly non-college-educated and Latino women, didn’t prioritize abortion as their primary concern. Instead, economic issues like inflation and affordability took precedence.
**Editor**: That’s an interesting point. You mentioned that Harris’s messaging focused heavily on abortion rights. Why do you think that message fell flat for certain demographics?
**Evan Ross Smith**: Well, while abortion rights resonate deeply with a segment of the electorate, a large number of voters do not view it as an urgent issue. The non-college-educated demographic and Latino voters, for example, are facing direct economic pressures that overshadow concerns about reproductive rights. So, while abortion remains a key issue, it didn’t escalate to the level of urgency needed to sway undecided voters, especially with economic dissatisfaction being so pervasive.
**Editor**: It sounds like economic concerns were a larger driver for voter choices this time around. In your opinion, how could Harris’s campaign have adjusted their strategy to address this?
**Evan Ross Smith**: I think the campaign needed to create a stronger connection between abortion rights and broader economic well-being. For many voters, the question isn’t just about the right to choose, but also about how that intersects with economic stability. A message that tied reproductive rights to issues like healthcare costs, job security, and family financial stability might have attracted more diverse support. It’s not easy, but addressing the intersectionality of these issues could have made a difference.
**Editor**: That’s a compelling strategy. Do you believe that the Democratic Party has recognized these shifts in voter priorities as they prepare for future elections?
**Evan Ross Smith**: There’s definitely a growing awareness. The party is facing a crucial moment where understanding the nuances of voter concerns is essential. If they adapt their messaging to focus on the most pressing issues—like the economy—while still advocating for rights like abortion, they can leverage that support effectively. It’s a balancing act, but one that is necessary for connecting with a broader base.
**Editor**: Thank you, Evan, for your insights. It seems clear that moving forward, the Democratic Party will need to evolve its strategies to align with the immediate concerns of voters, especially women.
**Evan Ross Smith**: Absolutely, and thank you for having me. It will be interesting to see how they respond to these dynamics in upcoming elections.
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This interview captures the key points raised in the article while adding depth to the discussion through insights into voter priorities and campaign strategies.
