Maryland governor says Democrats must seek support of black voters as Trump sees lead in polls: ‘No solidarity’

Austin, Texas – Maryland Governor Wes Moore has a message for fellow Democrats as surveys show one of his most loyal voter groups is rapidly rallying behind him former president trump,

Trump has seen a surge in support among Black voters since he was elected in 2016. For example, a recent New York Times/Siena poll shows Trump garnering 17% support from that voter group, a 10-point increase from a poll taken in September 2020.

In an interview Fox News Digital At the Texas Tribune 2024 Festival, Moore was asked about Trump’s penetration among Black voters and whether Vice President Kamala Harris and Democrats more broadly should be worried.

Dem Maryland governor says he enjoys ‘shotgun beer’ and football, as many think masculinity is on the ballot

,I think you have to earn the support of every voter. And I think that’s especially true with Black voters,” Moore told Fox News Digital. “Black voters and our groups are not homogenous. They’re not going to go with someone because of their political affiliation. They’re not going to go with someone because of how they look. You have to earn their support. And I think that makes it really important that we emphasize the issues that are important to members of the Black community when you’re talking about things like work and wages and access to wealth.”

Moore touted Harris’ “opportunity economy” proposals as something that could win over Black voters and emphasized that both she and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, are reaching out directly to Black communities to gain their support.

Harris strengthens her support among black voters, Trump’s numbers remain steady: Survey

Former President Trump has seen double-digit increases in support among Black voters, a crucial voter bloc for Democrats who Vice President Kamala Harris must win by large margins to win the White House. (Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Though he avoided answering why he thinks Trump is becoming increasingly attractive to black voters, Moore suggested the focus is not on whether some voters switch parties, but on whether they choose to go out and vote or stay home.

“I think it’s really important that the way we’re engaging voters is to not take voters for granted,” Moore said. “I think you have a lot of voters that are struggling to win over right now… This election is not going to be determined by whether people switch from Democrat to Republican or Republican to Democrat. This election is going to be determined by people who choose to vote and who choose not to. And so I think there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

Wes Moore praises Walz for military service, ‘mission accomplished’ despite resentment after retirement

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has warned fellow Democrats that black voters are not “united” and that his party must earn their votes. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Moore, who is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, was also asked what he thought about masculinity, a topic that is often discussed. The media coverage has been dominated by About the 2024 race and how both the Trump-Vance ticket and the Harris-Walz ticket attract male voters.

“I’m very proud of the person that I am. Yes, I’m a person who likes to drink beer before football games, watch sports and play football,” Moore told Fox News Digital. “I’m a person who also deeply supports the growth of women in elected leadership. I don’t think we put ourselves in a box in these things.”

Moore, an avid Baltimore Ravens fan, played college football at Johns Hopkins University, where he was a star wide receiver who averaged 25.2 yards per reception as a senior. He is also a U.S. Army veteran, having been deployed to Afghanistan as a lieutenant.

Click here to get the Fox News app

Even though their qualifications are traditionally masculine, the governor believes men should not be boxed into one category.

“When we’re thinking about ways to support our young boys as they grow up to become men, I think it’s important that we don’t dehumanize them, or undermine their development,” Moore said. “Being able to say, ‘We support women in leadership roles,’ doesn’t make us less masculine. Women saying, ‘We support men in leadership roles,’ doesn’t make them less feminine.”

“That should be enough … just be who you are, and that’s how you should be supported,” Moore said.

Fox News’ Brian Flood contributed to this report.