WASHINGTON − Daigre Thomas remained undecided about her vote this November until Kamala Harris took over the Democratic nomination from President Joe Biden.

Now, the motivated health care worker from Connecticut is eager to vote for Harris, marking a significant shift in support toward the vice president among Black, Hispanic, and low-income voters, as revealed in a recent YSL News/Suffolk University poll.

Low-income voters — those earning below $20,000 — are now backing Harris over former President Donald Trump by a margin of 58% to 35%, marking the most substantial change among any voter group in the poll. This contrasts with June, when Trump was ahead of Biden by three percentage points in this economic category.

Thomas, who identifies as Black, expressed confidence in Harris, noting her working-class upbringing. “We don’t have to explain anything to her. She understands our struggles,” she said. “She’s one of us, and I believe she will advocate for our interests, particularly for the children.”

While Harris has not released extensive policy details, she has emphasized goals like improving housing affordability, increasing the childcare tax credit, and addressing grocery price increases.

Kamala Harris gaining traction with younger voters

This poll’s findings show an eight-point shift from late June, during which Trump led Biden. Throughout this year, Biden faced a deficit against Trump, ranging from half a percentage point to nearly four points.

Harris’ slight edge is largely attributed to demographic groups that include Black and Hispanic voters. Beyond low-income voters, Harris also appeals to moderate-income groups earning below $50,000. In this category, she currently leads Trump by three points, 47% to 44%, as indicated by the poll.

Individuals earning less than $20,000 typically consist of very young voters—those just beginning their careers or completing their studies—or older voters living on fixed incomes, explained David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center.

Harris’ approval rating within this group jumped by 16 points, rising from 37% in June to 53% in August.

The Democratic National Convention provided a platform for voters to learn more about Harris and increased her visibility, according to Paleologos. Given that the poll was conducted post-convention, it helps explain the uptick in her popularity.

“Older individuals who may watch TV at home are often influenced by their perceptions of her through figures like Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton,” he noted.

Paleologos also credited Harris’ effective use of social media in generating excitement among younger voters.

The support from Black voters appears to be revitalized as well, with their backing for Harris increasing by 17 points over Biden, from 47 points to 64 points.

However, the most notable increase is observed among lower-income voters.

Just two months ago, John Pike, a retiree from Madison, Wisconsin, earning $18,000 annually, was not planning to vote in the presidential election.

Pike, who is a registered Democrat, expressed feelings of “disillusionment and disappointment” concerning his choices.

“I felt trapped between Joseph Biden and Donald Trump, neither of whom appealed to me,” he stated.

“Kamala Harris appears to be a highly intelligent individual. Her experience as a prosecutor, district attorney, and vice president shows she is competent, and I believe she would be an excellent president.”

Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House correspondent for YSL News. You can follow her on X, previously known as Twitter, @SwapnaVenugopal