How can our party do better in electing black Senators and Governors?

[dsc]

Our party's record has been pretty abysmal when it comes to electing black Senators and Governors. We have elected two of each. Douglass Wilder of VA and Deval Patrick of MA as governors and Carol Mosley Braun and Barack Obama of IL as Senators. We have only reelected one of those four (Wilder couldn't run for reelection and Obama was elected President before he could stand for reelection). In addition we have had Patterson of NY ascend when Spitzer resigned and Burris of IL appointed by Blago. The Republicans have been worse (no Governors, 1 Senator) and now an appointed Senator.

Before we can fix the problem we need to figure out the problem. I think part of the problem is that due to segregation and now gerrymandering (some voting rights related and some done for GOP benefit) many black politicians represent very far left, majority minority, enclaves. The problem is that very few states are anywhere near as liberal as those districts and the record that one needs to prevent primaries in those districts is harmful to running statewide. The other route for black politicians to rise is big city mayor. The problem there is that you make enemies of the public employee unions that are a huge part of our statewide coalition. They also often are associated with corruption. That surely doesn't help in a statewide run.

So what can be done. One thing is to recruit talented mayors such as Booker in NJ, Foxx in NC, and others for statewide office. Another is to try to get black politicians to run for Congress in districts which aren't majority minority.

Blacks make up about a fourth of Democratic voters and in the US House had 43 out of 192 Democratic seats. While not the 1 out of 4 that pure numbers would suggest they aren't vastly unrepresented there as they are statewide. So it isn't that we can't find black political talent. I don't know the solution to this but it is not a good thing to have the only black US Senator be a Republican.

[letemrot]

1. 2 things..

Find strong,progressive candidates then make sure they STAY progressive.

I believe Americans want PROGRESSIVE candidates and as they see those qualities; they will elect in droves. We just have to drown out the RW noise machine.

[KingFlorez]

2. It's all structural

Most black office holders don't even aspire to statewide office, it's all about getting elected to the state legislature or the House and being done with it. Obama represented a very urban, liberal district, but he managed to breakthrough because he made the effort. Granted, he ran against crazy Alan Keyes, but I think he would have prevailed over anyone. Our next chance to elect an black Senator is Illinois 2016 and I'm sure that at least on black legislator who has a good profile will step up.

In 2012, some black candidates did almost get elected to R+, majority white seats. Val Demings who ran in FL-10 is being called on to run again for Congress, as she actually overperformed Obama in the district she ran in, despite falling short of winning. Demings could be a strong statewide candidate in the future, as well.

[dsc]

3. that probably is part of it

and if we get majorities in those bodies it makes perfect sense to behave that way. Why start over again when you are next in line for the chair of some powerful committee.