The year 2020 further exposed the several years of injustice, racist judiciary and the police brutality and profiling of black people in the United States of America. Being an election year itself, this has further inspired more black people to run for seats at the U.S senate in order to partake in decision making for blacks people and all people of color.
Many Americans believe the 2020 election is the most important of their lifetimes, and more African Americans running in this election than ever before, due to the injustices Black Americans faced every day over the last four years. Now, Black Americans are trying to change the system from the inside.
Meet some of the five Black men and 13 Black women running for a U.S Senate seat.
Marquita Bradshaw (D-Tenn.)
Bradshaw, a Memphis native and a single mom, defeated Army helicopter pilot James Mackler in the Democratic primary to become the first African American woman to win a major political party nomination in any statewide race in Tennessee.
Bradshaw’s platform features increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour, adopting the Green New Deal, expanding Medicare, and requiring universal background checks for gun purchases. Bradshaw is looking for another victory in the general election over Bill Hagerty.
Jaime Harrison (D-S.C.)
If you don’t know the man who has his opponent Lindsey Graham literally begging for money on Fox News, it’s about that time. Harrison, the son of a single, teenage mom, was raised by his grandparents in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Through determination and hard work, he overcame the challenges of poverty with the help of teachers and mentors to attend and graduate from Yale University and Georgetown Law.
Earlier this year Harrison was an afterthought in the South Carolina Senate race, but after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Harrison saw a wave of unprecedented financial support. Additionally, Harrison has also received endorsements from a bevy of Democrats including potential Vice President Kamala Harris, Majority Whip James Clyburn, and former President Barack Obama.
John James (R-Mich.)
James is an Army helicopter pilot who graduated from West Point in 2004 and served for eight years, participating in multiple tours of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom. After being honorably discharged, James returned to his hometown of Detroit to work in his family’s supply chain business.
James lost the 2018 U.S Senate election in Michigan to incumbent Democrat Debbie Stabenow. Two years later, James is running for the same seat against Democrat Gary Peters in the general election.
James’ platform includes improving healthcare and educational opportunities in Michigan, workforce development, and overhauling infrastructure including roads, bridges, dams and blight.
Mike Espy (D-Miss.)
Espy was already an all-star in the Democratic Party before running for a Senate seat in Mississippi. Epsy is the first Black American and the first from the south to be named Secretary of Agriculture, when he was appointed by former President Clinton in 1993.