Trump women voters/ Harris women voters/ 2024 gender gap/ early voting/ reproductive rights/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ As women voters outpace men in early voting for the 2024 election, Donald Trump faces intensified scrutiny over his limited efforts to engage female audiences, with Kamala Harris seizing the chance to address key issues like reproductive rights. While Trump leans on male-focused platforms, Harris works to capitalize on her strong support among women, who could be decisive in this close race.
Trump’s Struggle to Engage Women Voters as Gender Gap Widens: Quick Looks
- Gender Gap in Early Voting: Women account for 55% of ballots cast in key states.
- Campaign Strategy: Trump has largely avoided female-focused media, while Harris prioritizes reaching women voters.
- Controversial Comments: Trump’s “protector” remarks and his stance on abortion remain points of contention with women.
- Polling Data: Trump trails Harris by 14 points among likely female voters.
- Campaign Missteps: Trump’s male-dominated media appearances contrast with Harris’s outreach to women.
Trump Struggles to Appeal to Women Voters in Tight 2024 Race
Deep Look
As the 2024 election heads toward its climax, Donald Trump faces mounting concerns about his popularity among female voters, a group that has shown up strongly in early voting. Women have cast 55% of early ballots in seven pivotal battleground states, a 10-point lead over men, according to Democratic data firm Catalist. Trump, meanwhile, has struggled to close his gap with women, raising questions about his campaign strategy and approach to female voters.
Media Approach and Missed Opportunities
Trump has largely focused on male-dominated media platforms while bypassing opportunities to appear on shows popular with female audiences. For instance, he declined an invitation from podcaster Alex Cooper of Call Her Daddy, who hosts a widely listened-to show with a strong female following. Cooper, who recently interviewed Kamala Harris on women’s rights, extended a similar invitation to Trump, stating, “If he also wants to have a meaningful and in-depth conversation about women’s rights in this country, then he is welcome on Call Her Daddy anytime.” However, Trump’s campaign passed on the chance, doubling down instead on male-focused outlets and influencers.
Trump’s decision to sidestep these platforms has left him struggling to reach women voters at a critical time. Instead, he has made appearances on shows with predominantly male audiences, including comedian Joe Rogan’s podcast and appearances with YouTube personalities like Logan Paul. His heavy reliance on right-leaning male-dominated media spaces has contributed to a widening gender gap that has many Republicans worried about his chances.
Trump’s “Protector” Message Meets Pushback
Trump’s approach to addressing women’s issues has also sparked controversy. In his recent rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Trump insisted that he would protect women “whether they like it or not,” a comment that drew immediate criticism from the Harris campaign. Harris responded swiftly, pairing Trump’s remark with his anti-abortion stance in a widely viewed social media video, which she later referenced in speeches, saying, “He simply does not respect the freedom of women or the intelligence of women to make decisions about their own lives.”
Polling shows Harris leads Trump by a substantial 14 points among likely female voters. Trump’s comments about “protecting women” and his stance on abortion, including his vow to keep transgender women out of women’s sports, are not resonating as widely as his campaign had hoped. Additionally, Trump’s pick of Sen. JD Vance as his running mate—who once advocated for a national abortion ban—has likely alienated women who support reproductive rights, a key issue this election season.
Early Voting and the Gender Divide
Female voters have shown up in significant numbers during early voting, outpacing men in turnout across the battleground states by 10 points. Conservative leader Charlie Kirk, whose Turning Point Action group is a key part of Trump’s campaign strategy, acknowledged the gender gap, stating that the “early vote has been disproportionately female” and warning that, “If men stay at home, Kamala is president. It’s that simple.”
Trump’s limited engagement with women’s media platforms, combined with his remarks that alienate female voters, has led some supporters to worry about the long-term impact. A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll highlights Trump’s deficit among women, showing a large preference for Harris among likely female voters.
Harris Capitalizes on Gender Gap
In contrast, Harris has focused her campaign on engaging women through media appearances and emphasizing her support for reproductive rights. Her Call Her Daddy interview resonated with young women voters, many of whom are concerned about abortion rights and personal autonomy. Harris used the appearance to warn of potential setbacks to women’s rights under a second Trump term, saying, “The fight for reproductive freedom is, at its core, about the basic right any individual has to make decisions about their own body.”
Efforts to Energize Female Voters
In a bid to counter the widening gender gap, Trump’s campaign has rolled out a “women’s tour” featuring high-profile supporters like Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and former race car driver Danica Patrick. These events aim to draw female voters, but the gap remains an obstacle. At a recent Fox News town hall geared toward women, Trump referred to himself as the “father” of in vitro fertilization—a claim that Democrats mocked as tone-deaf, particularly given Trump’s hardline stance on abortion.
Meanwhile, the Harris campaign has seized on Trump’s struggles with women voters, framing him as out of touch and dismissive of women’s concerns. Harris, who could become the first female president, has presented herself as a champion for women’s rights and has garnered strong support from suburban women—a group critical to securing the presidency.
The Impact of Abortion and Health Policies
The Harris campaign has effectively used the abortion issue to mobilize female voters, highlighting Trump’s initial celebration of the Supreme Court’s 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade. Though Trump has since tried to distance himself from strict state abortion laws, his running mate’s stance and recent remarks have kept the issue in the spotlight. Trump’s attempt to reach female voters through surrogate figures like former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also yielded mixed results, with polling showing little shift in his support among women.
Looking Ahead
As Election Day nears, the impact of Trump’s female voter strategy will come under scrutiny, especially if the race remains as close as predicted. With female voters already outpacing men in early turnout, Harris has a notable advantage. Meanwhile, Trump’s decision to largely avoid platforms and issues that resonate with women could cost him the critical support needed to secure the White House.
For now, both campaigns are racing to capture every last vote, with Harris continuing to champion women’s rights and Trump sticking to his appeal to male-dominated audiences. Whether this approach proves successful for Trump will soon be answered, as both sides brace for the final outcome of a highly competitive 2024 election.
