Black college students make power moves ahead of U.S. election

Harris has won strong support among some groups of black Americans considered the Democratic Party's most loyal voting bloc, including young women, by engaging them on social justice and abortion rights. But young voters have criticized the Biden-Harris administration for its support of Israel in the Gaza war and raised concerns about support for Harris among black men.

Trump has reportedly found favor with black men, but some Democratic strategists believe that is overblown. A recent NAACP poll found from August to October that the percentage of black men under 50 who were likely to vote for Trump fell from 27% to 21%, while support for Harris rose from 51% to 59%.

However, Harris' lead over Trump shrank to a single percentage point over the Republican in the final stages of the race, 44% to 43%, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed on Tuesday.

Parties need to “make voters feel like they are in a long-term relationship,” Dr. Basil Smikle Jr., a political strategist and political consultant.

“From people in school now to people who graduated in the 1950s, they all followed the same path as the next possible president of the United States.”

The Harris campaign did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. However, the campaign announced plans in September to work with local campaigns to reach HBCU students during homecoming, with a focus on schools in the swing states of North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Georgia, where President Joe Biden won in 2020 with a won by a wafer-thin margin of 12,000 votes.

Trump campaign spokeswoman Janiyah Thomas said it was “taking the opportunity to engage with young Black voters” by highlighting initiatives that have benefited HBCUs and their home states.

Nonprofit Vote.org told Reuters it has registered over 1 million voters ages 18 to 24 this election cycle by engaging underrepresented groups and newcomers in voter campaigns and other outreach to students on HBCU campuses and in areas with a large population number of voters of color.

Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey cited “unprecedented” youth engagement this election cycle, with voters under 35 making up nearly 80% of all new registrations on the organization’s platform in the 2024 cycle, up from 64% in 2020.

Judge Montgomery, an NC A&T freshman, registered to vote during band camp in July. The drummer plans to lend his voice on campus alongside other members of the band Blue & Gold Marching Machine.

“Originally, I couldn’t even imagine voting,” the Georgia native said. “We took a break from music to delve deeper into some voting issues,” Montgomery said after performing to cheers at NC A&T’s homecoming parade, which also welcomed dance teams; the campus king, queen, and other members of the “royal court”; and a banner made of blue balloons that read “Kamala.”

BlackPAC CEO Adrianne Shropshire said homecoming events allow candidates to make a final push and “have substantive conversations with people who are still undecided.”

BlackPAC, a left-leaning political action committee, worked with Howard University students to engage their fellow students while celebrating their centennial homecoming.

Howard student Chloé Enoch, 21, said this year's election and Harris' candidacy have already inspired younger generations.

Harris, the HBCU's most famous graduate, has been featured on clothing, pins and other merchandise. Howard alumni waved newspaper fans that featured their faces on the front and early voting and election dates on the back.

This homecoming is about recognizing “how important your vote is,” said 19-year-old first-time voter Kadin Wooten. After class, she took a six-hour train ride home to New Haven, Connecticut, to vote in person.

The sight of a Howard graduate on the ballot thrilled clothing brand owner Travis Merritts, 21, a graduate of the university.

Upon returning home, Merritts sold T-shirts with Harris' 1986 Howard graduation picture. He drove several hours south to Florence, South Carolina, to cast his first vote in person because he thought it was meaningful.

“I’m excited to be able to help potentially make history,” Merritts said.