Divided by Gender in the US Presidential Election... Men Support Trump, Women Support Harris

Focus on Targeting 'Rational Votes' in the Final Stage of the Election

In the United States, ahead of the presidential election this November, political divisions based on gender are expanding rather than those based on race or economic status.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 16th (local time) that "Vice President Kamala Harris is struggling to gain support from men, while former President Donald Trump is having difficulty securing support from women," adding that "the gender gap is a defining characteristic of the current deadlocked Trump vs. Harris presidential race."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Recent polls reveal a clear gender gap. According to a poll conducted by Marist from the 8th to the 10th among 1,401 likely voters nationwide, 54% of men supported former President Trump, while 57% of women supported Vice President Harris. Considering Harris's appeal for abortion rights and Trump's macho rhetoric, this result is seen as natural.

WSJ explained, "The gap between men and women has become a stereotype of modern elections," noting that "this phenomenon has especially expanded since 2020, appearing across many racial, educational, and economic groups." According to a WSJ poll in August, the male support gap between former President Trump and Vice President Harris (then Joe Biden’s running mate) was 5 percentage points in the 2020 election but has recently widened to 10 percentage points. During the same period, Harris’s female support, which was 12 percentage points ahead of Trump, has increased to a 13 percentage point gap.

Sarah Longwell, a prominent anti-Trump figure within the Republican Party, described this U.S. presidential election as the most distinctly gender-divided election she has ever seen, expressing concern that "no one wants an election to become a man versus woman contest. No one wants to be in a political environment where gender is the most important factor in voting."

Both presidential candidates, seemingly aware of the gender gap in their support bases, have launched final efforts to court voters. On the 15th, former President Trump attended a Fox News town hall event composed exclusively of female audiences, claiming, "I am the father of IVF (in vitro fertilization)." This was interpreted as an attempt to raise his low support among women by emphasizing support for couples facing infertility. He also moderated his rhetoric on abortion by reaffirming his existing stance that the issue should be left to state governments.

Vice President Harris appeared on influential platforms and town hall events within the Black community, such as the radio show "The Breakfast Club," to consolidate her core supporters. On the 14th, she announced the "Opportunity Agenda for Black Men," which includes offering up to $20,000 (approximately 27 million KRW) in loan forgiveness to entrepreneurs in underdeveloped areas and easing access to the legal marijuana industry.

Lee Miringoff, director of Marist, analyzed, "There are two key issues to watch in the final stages of the election," adding, "Looking at likely voters, Harris’s support is strong, so higher voter turnout favors Harris, but the abnormally high expected gender gap should not be overlooked as it affects both sides."