Kamala Harris entered the Senate in 2017, regarded as only the sixth Black elect in the chamber post Reconstruction, and the second Black female. Today, as the Vice President and presumptive Democrat Presidential nominee, she could potentially enable a third and fourth Black woman to join the Senate through Maryland and Delaware elections respectively. Moreover, if voter trends continue to favor Democrats, Harris might assist an eighth Black politician to secure a seat in the Senate via Texas.
Since President Joe Biden decided to retire and subsequently endorsed Harris, there has been growing chatter about how this decision has sparked renewed hope among Democrats. The focus, especially from critics, is on cynically blocking the potential return of former President Donald Trump. However, the less discussed are the ‘down-ballot effects’ which are beginning to gain prominence.
Interestingly, in three states, election ballots will display Black Presidential and Senate party-ticket candidates. This reflects a historical first for our nation. In contrast, when Barack Obama secured the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2008 and 2012, there were no Black Senate candidates representing the party.
Maryland county executive Angela Alsobrooks and Delaware Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester are competing to replace retiring Democratic incumbents. While both races are in traditionally Democrat-favored states, critics argue that nothing is a sure guarantee in the current political climate. For instance, Larry Hogan, the former Maryland Governor and respected Republican, remains a potential crossover figure keeping Democrats in D.C. on edge.
In Delaware, Blunt Rochester is perceived as having an edge in a state that last sent a Republican to Congress in 2008; however, she can’t afford complacency. Texas also shows interesting dynamics, where Harris is expected to make her third visit within the month. Here, Representative Colin Allred trails Senator Ted Cruz by single digits in the polls. This race is indeed tough, considering the state has not elected a Democrat to a statewide position for many a year.
Regardless of these challenges, Harris’s campaign has not disregarded Texas, a state that has been rumored to be on the brink of democratization long before votes are counted. Democratic strategists tread cautiously, mindful of the fact that Senate campaigns today can equal the magnitude of previous decades’ presidential runs, each possessing its own momentum and influence.
One insider described these Senate races as possessing their own unique weather systems, independent of national trends. Still, there is a sense of relief among these anonymous insiders at the exit of low-pressure Biden from the down-ballot map. The Democratic party is treading on thin ice they hold a shaky one-seat majority in the Senate, with 47 seats and another four independents generally aligning with them.
One of those lawmakers, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, is stepping down at the end of this term, handing an almost guaranteed victory to Republicans. At the same time, House Democrats are straining to overturn a net five-seat deficit that stands between them and majority control.
On the other hand, Republicans have routinely scoffed at Harris’s ascension, branding it naught but a short-lived honeymoon period. They predict a crash-and-burn scenario for Democrats once voters begin delving into Harris’s record. Her upcoming selection of a running mate will cast her decision-making abilities under scrutiny, with critics eager to pounce on every misstep.
In the forefront will be a trio of potential history-making Senators, who could potentially leverage the momentum of Harris’ campaign, eyed with skepticism by many observers. With an electorate and donor pool already prepared to help Harris block Trump, the Senate races in Maryland, Delaware, and Texas could also potentially augment the slim number of Black Senators. However, this is examined with a gloomy cynicism and ridicule, given their extreme partisan approach.
Among these potential history-making Senators, are the likes of Senator Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, Senator Raphael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat, and Senator Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican. All previously won elections to the chamber, while Senator Laphonza Butler filled in temporarily for California when Senator Dianne Feinstein retired early.
Among the more than 2,000 men and women selected to serve in the Senate since the formation of the nation, it is a harsh reality that only a trio of Black contenders are being discussed as potential history reshapers. This reality is not lost on those who manage Senate races in the current political cycle.
Illustrating the stunted progress within our nation, this scenario re-emphasizes the fact that the positive impacts of racial diversity within governing bodies are greatly underestimated by these partisan operators. Rather than welcoming the possibility of a new era of representation for underrepresented communities, it seems that politics continues to play into a narrative that undermines these achievable milestones.
It’s a sobering truth, pondered by a handful of cynical yet fervent campaign operatives working tirelessly in this election cycle. On one side, there is the continual undermining of the strides made by individuals of diverse backgrounds, while on the other, their successes are used to underpin strategies that largely benefit their partisan interests.
In this regard, the narrative of these three Black contenders making history is not only a testament to unprecedented racial representation in the Senate but also a criticism of how partisan politics can sometimes obscure the larger and more important narrative of social progress. Unfortunately, it appears that political benefits continue to be given precedence over the larger goal of increased diversity and representation.
The current political landscape underlines this stark reality. As the nation moves towards the upcoming elections, critics are buying into a discourse fueled by the selective ridicule of positive progress, marring what could be a significant moment in our nation’s history.
Joe Biden’s Retirement Leaves Democrats in Desperate Bid to Maintain Fragile Senate Majority appeared first on Real News Now.
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