FOX News: Chicago South Republican Chairman Devin Jones said abortion is not a major issue for black voters in this election. Instead, he said black voters, especially men, are more interested in economic opportunity and entrepreneurship.
“If the Trump campaign puts more emphasis on issues that specifically affect the Black community, like inflation, for example, making it harder to afford basic necessities. I think there's a jobs crisis in the Black community, an unemployment crisis, an entrepreneurial crisis,” Jones said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “So having a rep that speaks to those issues and specifically outlines policies that target them to the Black community.”
Republican presidential nominee Trump is hoping to win more black votes in what is becoming a close race against Democratic candidate Harris, and has previously said he is growing in popularity among black men.
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Former President Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, answered reporters' questions during a campaign event in Howell, Michigan. (Nick Antaya/Getty Images)
During his first term, Trump promoted several initiatives targeted at black voters, including opportunity zones and funding for historically black colleges and universities.
“This is a very progressive area,” Jones said of Chicago. “A lot of the issues — unemployment, the housing crisis, lack of entrepreneurial opportunity — are caused by state and local governments imposing heavy regulations and heavy taxes that reduce opportunity. So I think having him talk about being our partner at the federal level in fighting against local empowerment is going to go a long way in garnering support from undecided people and black Democrats.”
Jones also said that even though the issue of abortion has been prominent on both Democratic and Republican policy platforms in recent weeks, when he's out in the field talking to people, “you don't typically hear people talking about abortion in that way.”
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Arizonans rallied in Phoenix for abortion rights after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 anti-abortion law was enforceable. (Gina Ferrazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“Abortion is an issue because the majority of abortions are due to economic issues,” Jones said. “So if we improve the lack of economic opportunity and the ability to provide for a family, abortions will go down,” Jones said. “I personally want President Trump and all Republicans to take a tough stance on abortion.”
Trump's latest and clearest statement on Florida's Amendment 4, which would override the state's ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and create a constitutional right to abortion in the state, may defuse some of the criticism he has received from pro-life advocates. After making comments on Thursday suggesting he might support the amendment, Trump told Fox News Channel's Brian Lenas on Friday afternoon, “I'm voting 'no.'”
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Pro-life activists protested on August 20 near the Democratic National Convention in Chicago outside a Planned Parenthood van that offers free vasectomies and medication abortions. (Fox News Digital)
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Florida voters will have the final say on Amendment 4 on the November ballot.
Fox News Digital's Emma Colton contributed to this report.
