Why Kamala Harris is the frontrunner in a Biden-less field

A review of recent polling tells the story.

A POLITICO/Morning Consult poll from December measured Harris’ support among Black voters at 52 percent in a Biden-free 2024 primary. Her nearest competitor was Rep. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-N.Y.) at 7 percent (Transportation Secretary PETE BUTTIGIEG was at 3 percent).

Another poll last month from the Republican firm, Echelon Insights, pegged Harris’ support among Black voters at 53 percent, with Georgia gubernatorial candidate STACEY ABRAMS registering the second highest support level at 13 percent. An Abrams spokesperson pointed us to past campaign statements refuting the idea she’d run for president in 2024.

It’s a striking turnaround from 2019 when Harris struggled to win over Black voters during her own presidential campaign, one that gives the VP a bedrock Democratic constituency at a time of growing chatter about the uncertain future of the Democratic Party’s leadership.