Black candidates for US Senate smash fundraising records for 2022 midterms

[marmar]

(Guardian UK) African American candidates running for the US Senate smashed campaign fundraising records over the past three months, raising hopes of transforming a body that remains overwhelmingly white.

There have only been 11 Black senators since the chamber first convened in 1789 and only two were women. Senator Kamala Harris’s ascent to the vice-presidency means there are currently no female members who are Black.

But in the most recent Federal Election Commission reporting period, African Americans posted huge sums from donors, especially in the south, suggesting the potential to build a pipeline of Black politicians who can excite the grassroots and reshape the government.

Democrat Raphael Warnock, a pastor who won a crucial runoff in January to become Georgia’s first Black senator, took in a staggering $9.5m over three months for his re-election bid. Val Demings, a congresswoman and former police chief challenging the Republican senator Marco Rubio in Florida, was close behind with $8.5m. .............(more)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/22/black-candidates-us-senate-fundraising-records-2022-midterms

[mucifer]

1. Unfortunately, this doesn't matter because the "supreme court" states $$$ is free speech

so the wealthy can buy politicians in other ways.

[dsc]

2. This is, in part, because we are finally seeing Black women and men

getting the lesser political jobs that are a pipeline to being a Senate candidate. In NC Cheryl Beasley was chief justice and very narrowly lost reelection (less than 400 votes out of 6 million cast), Abrams had been minority leader in the legislature when she ran for governor, narrowly losing. Val Demmings is a Congresswoman from a swing district, not a VRA district. This is a good thing to see which has been a long time coming.

[Hortensis]

3. Great. Extrapolating, but this sounds positive for Democrats in 2022.

I see everything in terms of that. Because if the Republicans get control, color of the representatives will become irrelevant and we should all get ready to kiss our equal asses goodbye.

That said, I'm so glad for the support Rev. Warnock's special election. Our modest donation's in that huge haul to secure his seat for Democrats and as a black senator.