Republicans Aim to Sustain Gains with Black Voters Beyond 2024

In the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, President Donald Trump will not appear on the ballot. However, T.W. Shannon, former chair of Black Voices for Trump, believes the Republican Party can sustain the momentum from the 2024 presidential race. During that election, Trump saw significant improvement in support among Black voters.

Shannon, previously the Speaker of the Oklahoma State House and a participant in the second Trump administration, is now running for lieutenant governor in Oklahoma. He attributes potential success to GOP policies and a gradual leftward shift in the Democratic Party.

According to a Fox News Voter Analysis, Trump captured 16% of the Black vote in 2024, improving from previous figures. Shannon highlights efforts by the Republican Party to appeal to Black voters, something he claims the Democrats had previously ignored.

Shannon referenced achievements such as job creation and reduced crime rates during Trump’s presidency. He believes these outcomes positively impacted Black voters and communities. He critiqued the Democratic candidates, especially those aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, for proposing policies like tax increases and police disbandment, which he said do not resonate with Black communities.

“It’s because Donald Trump has transformed the Republican Party back into the working party,” Shannon stated. “You see Democrats competing for the Black vote now. Something that you used to not see at all. They didn’t have to, they just took it for granted,” he added.

In contrast, a Democratic National Committee spokesperson argued that Black Americans will dismiss Trump’s policies, which they described as benefiting billionaires and raising costs. They emphasize efforts to lower costs and support working families. The DNC is dedicating resources to engage, register, and mobilize Black voters while safeguarding civil and voting rights.

Shannon, a prominent figure from Lawton, Oklahoma, became the state’s youngest and first African American House speaker in 2013. He also holds the distinction of being the first Chickasaw Nation member in this role. He is a strong candidate for the upcoming election in Oklahoma, a state with solid Republican leanings.

Shannon stated that speaking during primetime at the convention allowed him to highlight the strengths of Oklahoma and America. He expressed eagerness to share this narrative with a national audience.