Voters Believe ‘Race Card’ Politics are Untrustworthy According to Rasmussen Poll

A recent Rasmussen survey reveals that 70% of voters believe politicians bring up racial issues solely for electoral gain, with only 18% stating that most politicians raise these issues to address real problems.

Twice as many voters (42%) think political candidates talk about racial issues too much in their campaigns compared to 21% who believe these issues are discussed too little. Twenty-nine percent believe the level of discussion on racial issues in politics is appropriate.

Republicans, at 82%, are more likely than Democrats (55%) or unaffiliated voters (74%) to believe that politicians raise racial concerns merely for election purposes. Fewer Democrats (22%) compared to Republicans (60%) or unaffiliated voters (46%) think that political candidates talk about racial issues excessively in their campaigns.

Regarding the historical impact on Black Americans, 43% claim Democrats have done more, while 38% say Republicans have been more beneficial, and 16% believe both parties have had a similar effect. In 2020, only 28% believed the GOP had done more for this demographic.

Seventy-four percent of Democrats claim their party has done more for Black Americans, while 71% of Republicans believe the GOP has been more beneficial. Among unaffiliated voters, 37% think Democrats have made more efforts, 33% believe Republicans have been better, and 23% state that both major parties have had a similar impact.

Black voters (45%) are more likely than whites (15%), Hispanics (20%), or other minorities (25%) to think that political candidates do not discuss racial issues enough in their campaigns. However, the majority in each racial category – 73% of whites, 61% of Black voters, and 66% of Hispanics and other minorities – believe that most politicians raise racial issues solely to be elected. A majority (52%) of Black voters believe that historically, the Democratic Party has done more for their group.

Older voters are significantly more inclined than those under 40 to think that political candidates talk about racial issues excessively in their campaigns.

In terms of income brackets, voters in the highest bracket – with earnings exceeding $200,000 annually – are most likely to believe that Democrats have done more for Black Americans.

During a commencement speech at historically Black Morehouse College, President Joe Biden questioned, “What is democracy if Black men are being killed in the street? What is democracy with a trail of broken promises leaving Black communities behind?”

President Joe Biden’s strongest supporters are more likely to trust the sincerity of politicians addressing race. Among voters who strongly approve of Biden’s presidential performance, 42% believe that most politicians bring up racial issues to address real problems. Conversely, among those who strongly disapprove of Biden’s performance, only 4% think that politicians raise racial issues to address real problems.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that “a defining feature of American politics has been the rightward shift of voters of color. Asian, Black, and Hispanic voters have all become less likely to support Democratic candidates and more likely to support Republicans, including Trump.”

The survey of 1,113 U.S. likely voters was conducted from May 20-22, 2024 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. The fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is carried out by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC.