
As part of its continued efforts to engage Black voters, the Democratic Party has announced its participation in the ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans for a third consecutive year. From July 4 through July 7, Democrats will host a โSeat at the Tableโ booth at ESSENCE Fest, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with party representatives at the biggest Black culture and music event in the country.
The booth will feature stations for one-on-one conversations, a photo booth, and opportunities for festival attendees to learn more about the Democratic Partyโs initiatives on key issues and how they can get involved. This collaboration, involving the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), CBCPAC, and Rolling Sea Action Fund, aims to highlight Democratsโ commitment to Black voters.
โBlack voters, and particularly Black women, are the heart of the Democratic Party โ and we arenโt taking their support for granted in 2024. Since this campaign began, weโve focused on meeting people where theyโre at,โ said DNC National Political Director Brencia Berry.
Essence Festival of Culture is celebrating 30 years this year, and it has always brought the biggest names in music and entertainment to the city. Over its three decades, it has also carved out and curated other unique spaces, including health and wellness, business and beauty, and has been a hub for political engagement.
โThe festivalโs political significance has grown over the years, with many prominent figures recognizing it as a key platform to connect with Black voters, particularly Black women. Previous speakers have included Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, and โ Kamala Harris โ in her pre-vice presidential role,โ said ESSENCE Ventures President and CEO, Caroline Wanga.
โIn the context of the 2024 election, the Essence Festival takes on even greater importance. It provides a unique opportunity for the Biden/Harris campaign to directly engage with a crucial voter demographic in an environment that is authentic, commemorative, safe and refueling to Black culture and achievement. Vice President Harrisโ participation in the โChief to Chiefโ franchise this year sends a clear message about the campaignโs priorities and its recognition of the power of Black women voters,โ Wanga added.
โMoreover, the festivalโs timing โ just as the election season begins to heat up โ makes it an ideal launching pad for amplification of how campaign messages and initiatives align to constituency expectations and priorities. It sets the tone of the relationship between candidates and voters as the campaigning continues.โ
The โSeat at the Tableโ booth will spotlight the achievements of President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other Democratic leaders, including helping โBlack entrepreneurs start businesses at the fastest rate in 30 years to 2.5 million jobs for Black workers, to historically low unemployment, to canceling student debt for nearly five million Americans.โ
According to the 2024 ESSENCE/ Black Womenโs Roundtable โPower of the Sister Voteโ poll, whatโs on the minds of Black women across the country is the economy, along with inflation and reducing gun violence. As we approach this yearโs presidential election, 86 percent of Black women want the cost of living to be reduced, and 88 percent of Black women are supportive of reproductive freedoms.
In the 2020 presidential election, Biden secured 92% of the Black vote compared to Trumpโs 8%. However, current national polling indicates that the president still has some ground to cover to reach the same level of support this November. The latest data from the Pew Research Center shows that 77% of Black voters currently prefer Biden, while 18% support Trump.
Democratic leaders say they are focused on making and maintaining meaningful community connections with Black Voters, and thatโs why they continue to show up and engage voters during ESSENCE Fest. โWe need to be consistent in our efforts to reach out to and engage Black voters, who are indispensable to our efforts to take back the House majority,โ said Tasha Cole, DCCC Deputy Executive Director for Stakeholder Engagement.
CBCPACโs Partnerships Director, Cara Johnston, echoed those sentiments as well as the commitment to the community: โWe are committed to delivering for Black Americans, and we know we must earn the vote in every election.โ
Last year, the โSeat at the Tableโ booth attracted over 1,500 visitors, showcasing the importance of the ESSENCE Festival Of Culture as critical platform for political engagement.
The ESSENCE Festival of Cultureโข presented by Coca-Colaยฎ will take place July 4-7. For more information and updates on the festival, visit our website and follow us on social media @ESSENCEFest on X, Facebook, and Instagram.