The growing divide in how men and women perceive political issues is becoming a defining factor in the upcoming presidential race, just 10 days before Election Day. Recent USA TODAY/Suffolk University polls reveal a significant gender gap, with women favoring Democrat Kamala Harris at 53% compared to 36% for Republican Donald Trump. Conversely, men overwhelmingly support Trump at 53% to Harris’s 37%. If these trends hold, it would mark the largest gender gap since the phenomenon emerged in the 1980s.
This year, the gender gap is particularly pronounced among Latino and Black voters, as well as white voters. Many respondents have noticed this divide even within their own families.
Vanessa Carmona, a 48-year-old from Pasadena, California, expressed her frustration during the polling. While her husband believes a Republican would better address financial issues, she prioritizes reproductive rights, shaped by her own experiences. “Knowing our history with having a miscarriage… I cannot believe you’re saying this right now, with what we went through,” she shared.
Several factors contribute to this divide. From the beginning of his political career, Trump has resonated more with male voters, while his often controversial rhetoric has alienated many women. Meanwhile, Harris’s historic nomination as a woman of color has attracted female support, especially following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, bringing abortion rights to the forefront.
A New Gender Gap Among Latinos
Trump’s surprising appeal to Latino men has created a notable gender gap within this demographic, which had traditionally leaned Democratic. A USA TODAY/Suffolk poll in Arizona found that women supported Harris by a substantial 40 points (68% to 28%), while men narrowly favored Trump by 2 points (48% to 46%). This gap is statistically significant, exceeding the margin of error.
Similarly, in Nevada, women backed Harris by 39 points (68% to 29%), while men supported Trump by 6 points (50% to 44%).
Black Voter Trends
Among Black voters, there remains overwhelming support for Democrats, but Trump is gaining traction among Black men. In Michigan, a USA TODAY/Suffolk poll revealed that women favored Harris by a staggering 72 points, while 13% of Black men supported Trump, reducing Harris’s margin to 53 points.
George Powell, a 30-year-old Black voter from Lansing, expressed uncertainty about his choice. “I think Kamala, but I’m not sure,” he said, highlighting a lack of strong attachment to either candidate.
In Pennsylvania, the gap was even wider, with women supporting Harris by 71 points (78% to 7%), while men favored her by 48 points (63% to 15%).
Key Issues
Both men and women cite the economy and inflation as top concerns, though men prioritize these issues more (34% compared to 26% for women). The divergence becomes stark when considering other issues: women rank abortion and women’s rights as their second most important concern (17%), while men place them seventh (2%).
The national poll, which surveyed 1,000 likely voters between October 14 and 18, has a margin of error of 3.1 points.
Party Inclusion Perceptions
Opinions vary on whether men feel welcome in the Democratic Party and if women feel included in the GOP. In a national poll, 45% believed the Democratic Party prioritizes issues affecting women, while 44% disagreed. For the Republican Party, 43% felt it focused on men’s concerns, compared to 48% who did not.
A significant number of Harris supporters view the GOP as a “boys’ club,” with three-quarters believing the party is more concerned with men’s issues.
The gender divide can make discussions challenging. Denise Oberlies, a 59-year-old Trump supporter from New York, noted, “If I want to continue friendships… you have to, to a certain degree, just not discuss certain things with certain people.”