Could we elect FIVE Black Senators in 2020?
As I reflect on last night's "debate", one thing is crystal clear: We must not only defeat Donald Trump, we must defeat Trumpism.
I'm not talking about his bluster and bullying, I'm talking about his embrace of white supremacy.
Given a chance to condemn racism, the President of the United States not only failed to do, he actually called them to action, saying "stand back and stand by" — a rallying cry for the racist Proud Boys. From "s---hole countries" to "good people on both sides", racism has been central to Trump's rhetoric all along.
But here's what you need to know: There are FIVE Black candidates for the U.S. Senate running in 2020—all of them in the South. And you know what? They can win.
Each of these candidates would make a terrific addition to the U.S. Senate. Let me tell you about them:
Marquita Bradshaw is all about fighting climate chaos. Her work with the Sierra Club and for environmental justice in Tennessee is exactly what we need right now, given the state of our country and planet.
Mike Espy is a former member of Congress from Mississippi and Bill Clinton's Secretary of Agriculture. He'd be able to get right to work on day one as an effective part of our Senate team.
Jaime Harrison is facing one of Donald Trump's closest allies, Lindsey Graham. The heart of his campaign isn't about what divides us, but about what's right and what's wrong right now in America.
Adrian Perkins is a bright young star. Just 34 years old, he was the first Black class president at West Point, earned a Bronze Star in combat as an Army Ranger, and came home to serve as Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana. He knows how to lead.
Raphael Warnock wants to put the focus right back on families struggling to survive in Donald Trump's America. As a successor to Dr. Martin Luther King's pulpit at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist, he knows that equality comes from ensuring there's dignity in every job and for every person—not just for the rich and the powerful.
These five Black candidates are all running in the South. But their team must be made up of people coast-to-coast. That's why we're supporting these five candidates through my Blue Wave Project to take back the Senate. And that's why I'm asking you to chip in $3 to power them to victory by midnight tonight.
We have just over a month to go until the election. [Let's support these candidates and let's work together to end Trumpism in America.
Jeff
