A startling comparison is circulating online, resurrecting a disturbing statistic from a past election. Recent polling data reveals a significant challenge for former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in gaining support from Black voters, prompting a look back at a particularly unsettling result from the 2016 Senate race in Louisiana.
During David Duke’s unsuccessful bid for the Senate, a poll indicated he secured the support of 14 percent of Black voters in his home state. While a state-level Senate race differs vastly from a national presidential contest, the number has ignited a fierce debate in light of current political landscapes.
The catalyst for this renewed scrutiny was the release of a recent Yale Youth Poll. Social media users were quick to point out the stark contrast: Duke garnered more than three times the support from Black voters than Buttigieg currently enjoys, according to the Yale data.
The Yale poll, encompassing 3,426 registered voters – including a substantial sample of 1,706 young adults aged 18-34 – showed Buttigieg receiving only four percent support among Black voters. The results were carefully weighted to reflect demographic realities, adding weight to the finding.
Within the same poll, former Vice President Kamala Harris emerged as the frontrunner among potential 2028 Democratic candidates, capturing 47 percent of Black voter support. California Governor Gavin Newsom followed with 12 percent, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez secured nine percent.
Buttigieg’s four percent paled in comparison to these figures, highlighting a considerable gap in appeal. Overall, Newsom led all potential candidates with 25 percent, followed by Harris at 18 percent and Ocasio-Cortez at 16 percent, while Buttigieg registered 14 percent overall.
The 2016 poll, as reported at the time, revealed the uncomfortable truth of Duke’s appeal to a segment of the Louisiana electorate. The University of New Orleans’ Survey Research Center documented the 14 percent support, a figure that now echoes with renewed significance.
This data underscores the complex dynamics at play within the Democratic party and the challenges facing potential candidates as they seek to build a broad coalition of support. The disparity in numbers serves as a stark reminder of the work needed to connect with and earn the trust of Black voters.
