Minority voters react to 2024 presidential election results

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Tuesday’s presidential election results have some voters in New Hanover County divided.

Sonya Patrick, southeast region director for the National African American Leadership Caucus, has been hard at work for months trying to get voters to the polls to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris. She learned late Tuesday that the initiative had failed nationwide.

“We’re not surprised, but we’re extremely disappointed,” Patrick said.

Patrick believes Harris’ gender and race played a role in her loss.

“America said, ‘We’re not ready,'” Patrick said. “And when you look at the history of this country, everything matches up. History does not support women or black and brown people.”

Patrick’s identity as a black woman represents one of the Democratic Party’s most loyal constituencies. Over the past 25 years, 90% or more of black women voters have voted for the Democratic candidate in presidential elections.

Another population group whose majority typically votes for the Democratic candidate is the Latino community. However, an exit poll conducted by NBC News showed that a majority of Latino men are voting for Donald Trump, as well as a large percentage of Latino women. It was the farthest shift to the right among the demographic group in two decades.

Lucy Vasquez, who voted for Donald Trump herself, said she wasn’t surprised at all.

“Everything was great under his presidency,” Vasquez said. “So the United States was safe. The world was at peace, prices were falling, and everyone was buying houses. There was a lot of peace, prosperity and security.”

Vasquez said many of her friends and family in the Latino community have voted Democratic in the past, even in the 2020 election, but Trump’s economic policies convinced them to vote Republican. She said many people in the community are business owners and a Trump presidency will help them become more profitable.

“I know everyone is very, very happy,” Vasquez said. “A lot of them had voted Democratic in the past, but they knew they had to vote for Trump. There have been a lot of things that have happened in the last four years that have opened the eyes and minds of a lot of people to realize that this is not the agenda you want for your life and the lives of your children.”

Patrick said the shift to the right isn’t all that surprising when looking at demographics from a cultural perspective.

“The African, black and brown communities are very conservative,” Patrick said. “And LGBTQ+ people, they are not big fans of the abortion issue, and often leave that out (when voting).”

Vázquez said learning that Trump is the president-elect has restored faith and hope in her country.

“The American Dream is still alive,” Vasquez said. “If you could still succeed in the last four years, you will succeed in the next four.”

While Patrick said she still plans to mobilize voters in future elections, she is not as optimistic.

“Every election is a reflection of the people,” Patrick said. “It’s not just about Trump. When people tell you who they are, believe them, and Trump is the personification of what America is.”