Press Releases
All Media inquires, please contact:
Angelo Greco at (917) 499-2688 angelo@trillmulticultural.com
Lon Walls at (301) 996-1669 lwalls@wallscomm.com
Tyrice Johnson at (205) 643-4755 newmedia@ncbcp.org
Dec 13, 2018
NCBCP and BLACK WOMEN’S ROUNDTABLE Release Results of UNITY ’18 CAMPAIGN Election Day Exit Poll and Share Key Leadership Role Black Women Played in Shifting Political Power in 2018 Mid-Term Election Cycle
Poll Reveals Top Issues and Policy Priorities Black Women Want 116th Congress & President to Address
Washington, DC (December 12, 2018) -- Yesterday, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) and the Back Women’s Roundtable (BWR) released the results of their Bi-Annual Unity ’18 Campaign Election Day Exit Poll of Black Women Voters, at its 2018 Post Election Media Briefing, “Power of Black Women Voters & Leadership in 2018.” The Election Day Exit Poll highlighted the issues and policy priorities Black women voters are most concerned about. The media briefing also included an intergenerational Black women’s leadership discussion that provided a deeper analysis of not only the impact the Black women’s vote had in the historic Black voter turnout of the 2018 Mid-Term Election Cycle in key states, presenters also highlighted the key leadership role Black women played in shifting political power on a national, state and local level.
The media briefing, which can be viewed on the NCBCP’s Facebook page, shared “on the ground” insight on as to the significant role the NCBCP Black Women’s Roundtable, other Black women-led organizations, Black women leaders and organizers played in the elections that took place in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania and other states. Panelists shared the challenges and barriers voters faced across the country that became notable issues in Georgia and Florida. Several panelists indicated that there will be an even greater focus on addressing voting rights and voter suppression in their work moving forward. However, despite suppression efforts, briefing presenters agreed that historic Black voter turnout provided the “energy” that they are committed to building upon in 2019-2020, as well as a focus on 2020 Decennial Census/Redistricting is a must to build Black political power for the future.
The Unity’18 Campaign 2018 Election Day Exit Poll surveyed more than 1800 voters, 79% of whom were Black Women. Key findings in the exit poll showed Black women voted primarily as a sense of responsibility. Black women surveyed also identified the following economic and social justice issues as very important to them including: affordable health care, criminal justice/policing reform, equal rights & equal pay, hate crimes/racism, jobs/employment and voting rights.
Black women voters of all ages surveyed identified protecting Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and Affordable Healthcare as their top two federal domestic policy priorities they want the 116th Congress and President Trump to address. Other policy priorities the poll revealed include protecting the nation from foreign meddling of elections, healthcare, immigration reform, impeachment, jobs, education and guns.
Melanie Campbell, President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and Convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable states, “This past election is further proof that Black women are clearly the ‘secret sauce’ with regard to maximizing the power and impact of the Black women’s vote and leadership. Black women not only led in voting, they led highly successful national and state-based campaigns, raised money for Black voting campaigns, recruited and trained Black women candidates that were a key part of shifting power in many congressional races and much more. Folks need to remember, if you want to win, follow black women.”
A complete copy of the exit poll data accompanies this press release.
Presenters and Respondents included:
- Melanie L. Campbell, President & CEO, NCBCP and Nat’l Convener, Black Women’s Roundtable
- Ebony Baylor, Director, Civic Engagement, National Urban League
- Salandra Benton, Convener, Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation/FL BWR, State Organizer, FL AFL-CIO, State Partner, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition
- Carol Blackmon, Convener, Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative, Children’s Defense Fund
- Latosha Brown - Co-Founder, Black Voters Matter
- Helen Butler, Executive Director, Georgia Coalition for the Peoples Agenda, Convener, GA BWR
- Glynda Carr, Co-Founder, Higher Heights for America
- Leah Daughtry, Author, Convener, Power Rising, President & CEO, On These Things, LLC
- Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald, Southern Regional Director, Children’s Defense Fund, Regional Administrator, Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative
- Holli Holliday, Esq., Senior Advisor, Political & Data Management, NCBCP, President, Sisters Lead, Sisters Vote
- Marcia Johnson-Blanco, Co-Director, Voting Rights Project, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
- Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever, Author, Founder, Exceptional Leadership Institute for Women, Senior Advisor, BWR Resource Development
- Carol Joyner, Director, Labor Project for Working Families, Family Values @ Work
- Janice Mathis, Esq., Executive Director, National Council of Negro Women
- Muthoni Wambu Kraal, Vice President of National Outreach and Training, Emily’s List
- Rev. Dr. Judith C. Moore, Convener, Pittsburgh/Mon Valley, Executive Director, SSON
- Tamika Ramsey, Co-Convener, Metro Detroit Black Women’s Roundtable, Co-Founder, Pontiac Policy Council
- Dr. Elsie Scott - Interim President & CEO, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
- Cassandra Welchlin, Co-Convener & Lead Organizer, Mississippi BWR/MSCBP
- Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner - Co-Chair, National African American Clergy Network
The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) was founded in 1976. Today, the NCBCP is one of the most active civil rights and social justice organizations in the nation “dedicated to increasing civic engagement, economic and voter empowerment in Black America.” The Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) is the women and girls empowerment arm of the NCBCP.
www.ncbcp.org
www.unitycampaign.org
