Key takeaways
- Participants try to find some silver linings in the country today, mostly around the change in administration and investments in health care.
- Biden gets a mix of grades—neither enthusiastic support nor enthusiastic rejection. No one gives Biden an F, but no one gives Biden an A.
- Most want to see Biden more aggressive.
- Student loan forgiveness looms large – it is associated with Biden and participants see it as having an impact on them and their communities.
- Some are COVID vaccine-converts, and others have seen mandates—formal or informal—make a difference.
Methodology
Participants Note Some Positives, But Others Struggle To Identify Specific Examples Of Things Going Well
Biden’s Progress Report Gets A Mix Of Grades, With Little Intensity In Either Direction
Biden’s Approval Rating Among Black Americans Has Eroded Over The Past Year, Particularly Among Those Under 35
President Biden’s approval rating among all Black Americans declined 10 points over the course of 2021 (from 86% to 76%); among those under the age of 35, approval has declined 25 points since this time last year (from 88% to 63%).
Little Anger Toward Biden, Most Just Want Him To Be More Aggressive
A Majority of Americans Would Prefer to Hear from Biden More, Including More Than Four in Five Black Americans
More than two in five Black Americans feel strongly that they would like to hear from President Biden more (44%).
Participants View Democrats As Not Adequately Overcoming Republican Obstruction
Most See The Voting Rights Debate As Republicans Aggrieved About Losing
Georgia And Texas Seen As Ground Zero For Voter Suppression
Voting Rights Are Not Top Of Mind For Everyone
Black Americans Overwhelmingly Support Biden’s Economic Agenda And Voting Rights Legislation
More than three in four younger Black Americans support both Biden’s economic agenda (76%) and new voting rights legislation (78%).
Many Associate Biden With The Promise Of Student Loan Forgiveness
Student Loan Freezes And Forgiveness Are Broadly Understood Policies These Participants Strongly Support
Freezes/Forgiveness Seen As Improving Quality Of Life For Themselves And Others
Revisiting With Michigan Men Shows Many Have Moved On The Vaccine
Vaccine Mandates—Formal And Informal—Moved Others
About The Study
This release features findings from three focus groups conducted on January 25, 2022 with Black voters in three states: in Michigan with less politically engaged men (most of whom were in our February 2021 group), in Georgia with younger Democratic men, and in Texas with younger Democratic women. Qualitative results are not statistically projectable.