Black Census Finds Low Trust in Federal Government
Early findings from the 2026 Black Census show most respondents have little trust in federal and elected officials.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in African-American
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Black Futures Lab released early findings from the 2026 Black Census on October 5, 2026, reporting that 3% of respondents trust the federal government and 3% trust elected officials overall. The preliminary results are based on 6,287 completed surveys from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and locations outside the states.
Why it matters
The findings point to widespread distrust among Black Americans toward government institutions heading into the 2026 midterm elections, when Black voters could play an important role. The survey also found strong support for policies including affordable college, reparations and food security measures.
The preliminary results come from 6,287 completed surveys, with 23% of respondents trusting Black elected officials compared with 3% trusting elected officials overall. The final tally and complete breakdown of results remain pending as the project works toward its 300,000-response target.
The players
Black Futures Lab
Black Futures Lab is an organization that runs the Black Census Project, a national survey effort aimed at shaping public policy and political engagement among Black Americans.
The details
Black Futures Lab described the 2026 Black Census as the third edition of its national project and held a press briefing on October 5 to share early results. Respondents also backed 90% support for affordable college, 84% support for reparations, 79% support for food security measures and 73% support for government help with parks and green spaces.
Timeline
October 5, 2026: Black Futures Lab releases early Black Census findings at a press briefing.
2026: Midterm elections, when Black voters could play an important role.
Culture Shift
The Black Census Project, now in its third national edition, extends a multi-cycle effort to measure community trust and policy priorities across Black America. The 2026 findings fit into a longer pattern of tracking how Black Americans view government institutions and public policy goals.
The survey results reflect the views of Black Americans across the United States, a group estimated at 30.65 million eligible voters in 2026 and about 12% of the national electorate. Readers who want to take part can contribute to the project's goal of 300,000 responses.
The takeaway
Low trust in government alongside strong support for specific policies suggests that Black voters' priorities may differ sharply from current political options. Tracking survey results like these can help readers understand where community concerns are concentrated ahead of elections.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the African-American section for context on Black community issues and policy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EURweb.
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