Showing posts with label black vote. Show all posts
Showing posts with label black vote. Show all posts

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Rep. Steven Horsford, Nevada's only black congressman endorses Biden

Rep. Steven Horsford, Nevada's only black congressman has endorsed Joe Biden for president.

“He is ready to do the job of president on Day one,” Horsford said of Biden in a statement. “And Joe knows Nevada. He campaigned with and served alongside (former President) Barack Obama during the eight years of his successful, scandal-free presidency.”

Horsford credited Biden with helping to “kill” the Yucca Mountain project, which would have dumped nuclear waste from across the country in Nevada.

He also praised the former vice president’s work with Obama on civil rights, labor and the economy, as well as Biden’s work on passing the Affordable Care Act.

Horsford is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and was the first African American majority leader of the Nevada Senate from 2009 to 2013.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

As an African American voter what three issues are most important to you?

The Democratic Primary is in full gear, and we are hearing potential presidential candidates talking about what THEY think are the most important things to black voters.

You hear some candidates talk as if voters of color only care about criminal justice reform or police brutality. Issues like education, environmental racism, healthcare, a livable wage, the economy, or domestic terrorism are also of importance to African American voters

That leads us to this question. As an African American voter what three issues are most important to you?

Take the poll below. You may pick three issues or add your own.

Saturday, November 17, 2018

NAACP VOTER TURNOUT EFFORTS SPUR INCREASED BLACK VOTER PARTICIPATION


NAACP civic engagement campaign helped generate record midterm election turnout among Black Voters 
BALTIMORE – From the passage of Amendment 4 in Florida, which restored voting rights to convicted felons to the record number of early voting among voters of color – including a 77% increase among African American voters, the NAACP’s civic engagement initiative, The Demonstration Project, helped propel Black voter participation during the midterm election to historic heights.  
“Nothing can discredit the fact that leaders, activists, including NAACP supporters and partners, helped increase civic engagement in ways many thought would not be possible,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson. “This election not only further proved the power of the Black vote but was an overwhelming rebuke of Trump and Trumpism, and a show of support for candidates who look like America and campaigned on a bold, forward-looking and inclusive vision.”    
The NAACP, along with GSSA, LLC, a Colorado data analytics group, mapped out metrics for the Black community – across six states (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan), to test new targeting models for low propensity and moderate propensity black voters, impact the elections and identify parity in registration and increase the turnout of Black voters in battleground states.   
NAACP door-knocking efforts produced the following numbers: 
  • Florida: NAACP and partners knocked on approximately 165k doors and completed over 24k contacts. 
  • Pennsylvania: approximately 30k doors and completed over 11k contacts.  
  • Georgia: approximately 30k doors and completed over 6k contacts. 
  • Ohio: approximately 17k doors and completed over 9k contacts.
NAACP voter protection work included:    
  • Worked with County Board of Elections in various states, in real-time to ensure that issues at the polls were addressed in a timely manner and to support voters who had issues in casting their ballots. 
  • Participated in litigation pressure efforts to extend voting hours due to voting administration irregularities in Georgia and Tennessee.  
NAACP victories to state-by-state include: 
  • Helped flip the North Carolina Supreme Court 
  • Helped to pass Amendment 4 in Florida – automatically restored voting rights in the state for people previously convicted of felonies   
  • Helped to pass Proposal 3 in Michigan – Promote The Vote (Same Day Registration) 
NAACP communication and digital work included: 
  • Reached over 575 thousand infrequent voters directly through peer to peer text messaging platform called, Hustle. 
Total Text Messages Sent:
  • 512,014 (Across the six Demonstration Project states) 
  • 578,569 (Including Maryland and Key Urban Centers) 
  • Sent three flights of mail to our targeted universe of infrequent voters which included over 600k individual households. 

Unfortunately, voter suppression played a huge role in the silencing of the political voices of the Black community and all people of color during the election season. In Georgia and Tennessee alone, Republicans engaged in a massive voter suppression strategy that has included further rolling back the Voting Rights Act.  
“Now is the time to look forward and prepare for the 2020 Census, and the imminent threat that the Census will substantially undercount African-Americans and other people of color in communities throughout the United States,” President Johnson continued. “This would further dilute the votes of racial and ethnic minorities, deprive their communities of critical federal funds and undervalue their voices and interests in the political arena. We can’t let this administration use yet another mechanism to devalue and stifle the voices of people of color.”   

***Please note: The data above is just a preliminary count of the campaign’s efforts. Additional analytics and our full analytics will be produced over the coming weeks*** 

### 

ABOUT THE NAACP: 
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas by visiting naacp.org. 

Friday, October 26, 2018

Barack Obama aims to boost Wisconsin, Michigan Democratic turnout

Former President Barack Obama has appearances in Wisconsin and Michigan on Friday aimed at boosting turnout to aid Democrats, including black voters.

Low turnout in Milwaukee by African-Americans proved costly for Hillary Clinton in 2016 when she narrowly lost Wisconsin. One analysis found turnout fell nearly 20 points compared to Obama’s 2012 run.

It was much the same story in Detroit, and Clinton also lost Michigan.

Obama’s Friday appearance at a Milwaukee high school in a majority black neighborhood is aimed at helping Democratic candidates including U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Tony Evers, who is challenging Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

The former president will be in Michigan later Friday for an event at a Detroit high school.

[SOURCE: KTIV]

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

HBCU Students sue Texas county, allege voting rights violations

UPDATE: Waller County, Texas expands early voting for Prairie View A&M students

A group of students from a historically black university have filed a lawsuit alleging a southeast Texas county is suppressing the voting rights of its black residents.

In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Houston on Monday, five Prairie View A&M University students allege Waller County election officials are violating the civil rights of black students and residents in Prairie View — which is predominantly African-American — by not providing any early voting locations on campus or anywhere in the city during the first week of early voting, which started Monday.

In the second week of early voting, the county is providing five days in Prairie View, but two of them are off-campus and at a site that is not easily accessible to many students who lack transportation, according to the lawsuit.

Prairie View is located about 50 miles northwest of Houston. The historically black university, which has about 8,400 full and part-time students, represents a significant voting bloc in Waller County.

Read more: HBCU Students sue Texas county, allege voting rights violations

Sunday, October 21, 2018

North Carolina poll worker removed amid allegations of intimidating black voters

Election officials in Bunn, North Carolina removed a poll worker from an early voting site Thursday following allegations that she intimidated several African American voters.

The poll worker has been assigned to office duty away from the voting site pending a meeting Tuesday, the NC State Board of Elections confirmed to The News & Observer on Saturday. On Tuesday, voters who filed complaints will speak with members of the Franklin County Board of Elections.

Members of an African American political action committee, Franklin County PAC, accused the poll worker of repeatedly asking about a half dozen African American voters voters to spell their names on Wednesday, the first day of early voting across the state.

The voter complaint comes amid a highly sensitive atmosphere with accusations of voter suppression, fraud and intimidation targeting people of color in a number of states including, Georgia, North Dakota and North Carolina.

The State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement said on Saturday that the agency has been in contact with Lisa Goswick, the Franklin County elections director.

The state agency released a statement to The News & Observer:

“The poll worker in question was taken off of poll duty and is working in the county office until the County Board can meet to discuss the incident. It is our understanding that the County Board will hear from the poll worker involved to get the other side of the story. The board also will hear from several eyewitnesses to the events. Both the State and County Board take these allegations seriously and will continue to gather facts.”

SOURCE: The News & Observer

Saturday, October 20, 2018

NEW $2.6 MILLION CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE BLACK VOTER TURNOUT IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS

The Black Economic Alliance PAC and Black Economic Alliance Fund announced today a $2.6 million campaign to mobilize Black voters in 15 key races ahead of next month’s midterm elections. The campaign seeks to increase Black voter turnout in support of candidates who are championing sustainable policies that will improve and enhance economic outcomes for the Black community in the U.S.
“For far too long, many of our nation’s elected officials have been crafting policies that contribute to the economic disenfranchisement of millions of Black people across the country,” said Gerald Adolph, board member of the Black Economic Alliance PAC. “By investing nearly $3 million in targeted gubernatorial, congressional and senate races, we can help ensure that candidates rallying for policies that lead to better employment opportunities and wages for Black Americans are victorious in November.”
“This midterm election is crucial for the economic well-being of many Black people and their families. That’s why we’ve extensively surveyed the national landscape to identify candidates who can help improve economic opportunities for the Black community,” continued Adolph. “As the election draws closer and fields shift, we will continue to invest in candidates and races that can make the ultimate difference in the lives of Black people.”
The Black Economic Alliance PAC and Black Economic Alliance Fund’s investments will support candidates in the following races: Florida Governor (Andrew Gillum); Florida U.S. Senate (Bill Nelson); FL-18 (Lauren Baer); FL-26 (Debbie Murcarsel-Powell); IL-14 (Lauren Underwood); Maryland Governor (Ben Jealous); Michigan Governor (Gretchen Whitmer); Mississippi U.S. Senate (Mike Epsy); NV-4 (Steven Horsford); NY-19 (Antonio Delgado), NC-13 (Kathy Manning); Ohio Governor (Richard Cordray); TX-7 (Lizzie Fletcher); TX-32 (Colin Allred); and VA-2 (Elaine Luria).
The investments will also help engage and mobilize Black voters through a variety of tactics, including polling, radio, and digital advertising, door-to-door canvassing, SMS texting, and direct mail.
In addition to their own direct electoral programming, the Black Economic Alliance PAC and Black Economic Alliance Fund is partnering with and supporting the ongoing voter mobilization efforts of the BlackPAC, BlackPAC-FL, The Collective, House Majority PAC, For Our Future, Power PAC Plus, and Maryland Together We Rise.


Thursday, September 06, 2018

With Voting Rights Act weakened, black church networks seek more voters

The months ahead of midterm elections, often a time of lower turnout among African-Americans and others, have become a focus of passionate activity by black Christian leaders.

“The attacks on the Voting Rights Act and other setbacks in civil rights have alerted the faith community that we need to take action,” said the Rev. Barbara Williams-Skinner, co-chair of the National African American Clergy Network. “We need to be proactive and not reactive.”

It’s been five years since the Supreme Court invalidated a key provision of the VRA, and voters in almost two dozen states face stricter rules. In response, black denominations and networks focused on people of color and the poor are gearing up in hopes of getting more people to the ballot box in November:

This week, leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church plan to continue their “AME Righteous Vote” initiative with mobilization briefings, Capitol Hill meetings and a “Call to Conscience” vigil at Lafayette Square across from the White House.

* Faith in Action, the grassroots organization formerly known as PICO National Network, hopes to reach more than a million people in 150 cities with phone calls and door-to door visits before Election Day on Nov. 6.

* A “Lawyers and Collars” program co-led by the Skinner Leadership Institute and Sojourners plans to train clergy on voter protection, hold meetings with state elections officials and spend Election Day at the polls with lawyers to assist voters.

* Stricter rules at polling places — such as ID laws — could lead to people being turned away on Nov. 6. Pastors and other leaders can serve as advocates on their behalf, said Williams-Skinner, who is also CEO of the Maryland-based institute.

“We’re saying that vulnerable voters need to have protection and we believe that the most respected leaders (and) the influential stakeholders should be there,” she said. “As they stand in line with people, people will stay in line no matter what happens.”

Read more: With Voting Rights Act weakened, black church networks seek more voters.

Saturday, August 25, 2018

James Clyburn: Democrats must advertise in the Black Press to win in November

During an interview with NNPA (National Newspaper Publishers Association) Newswire Rep. James Clyburn (Dem, South Carolina) made three suggestions he thinks Democrats should follow to increase black voter turnout so that they can win big in the 2018 mid-terms. One was to advertise in the Black Press

From the NNPA Newswire interview:

...Democrats shouldn’t rely on an anti-President Donald Trump wave to get out the vote. Finally, Clyburn said that candidates must advertise in the Black Press, if they want to win in November.

“We are also talking about districts where Barack Obama won twice and where Hillary Clinton also won, but these voters don’t turn out for the so-called ‘off-year elections,’” Clyburn said. “We can’t let these voters feel like we’re taking them for granted.”

Clyburn, 78, said he was recently taken aback by one candidate, who said that he could win the Black vote by running on an anti-Trump platform.

“Wait one second,” Clyburn said that he told the individual. “We can’t just go around being ‘Republican-light.’ We have to be out there putting forth an alternative message, for our base, and we have to reach out to Black voters and let them know we’re not taking them or any of our base for granted.”

To that end, Clyburn said advertising campaigns must largely include the Black Press.

“It’s very, very important…Chairman Richmond and I have had candidates in and we’ve been telling them that one of the best ways to demonstrate that you’re not taking the Black vote for granted is to advertise in the Black Press,” Clyburn said.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is the oldest and largest trade group representing the Black Press, comprised of more than 200 Black-owned newspapers operating in the United States.

“I’ve been in [the Black Press]. My daughter and I ran a newspaper down South, so I know that candidates tend to take Black media for granted,” Clyburn said. “They tend to judge Black media the same way they do other media and you just can’t do that, because the business model is totally different.”

Each Sunday after attending Morris Brown A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C., Clyburn said he and other churchgoers habitually pick up the local Black-owned newspaper.

“People tend to pay attention to the headlines, the stories and the ads in the Black Press so it’s vitally important that candidates know this,” Clyburn said.

Sunday, July 22, 2018

The Democratic Party Apologizes to Black Voters

The DNC's bid to energize African American turnout this fall began with these words from Chairman Tom Perez in Atlanta: "I am sorry."

Swanky fund-raisers don't often begin with an apology to the well-heeled donors who shelled out thousands of dollars to sip wine, eat steak, and listen to pep-rally speeches. But as he looked out over a predominantly black crowd gathered at the Georgia Aquarium on Thursday night, Tom Perez, the Democratic National Committee chairman, felt compelled to issue a mea culpa.

"I am sorry," Perez said.

At first, it seemed like Perez was voicing one more generalized regret for the 2016 election that put Donald Trump in the White House—the squandered opportunity that abruptly ended the Democrats' hold on the presidency and immediately put at risk its policy gains of the previous eight years.

Perez, however, soon made clear that his apology was much more specific. "We lost elections not only in November 2016, but we lost elections in the run-up because we stopped organizing," he said. "We stopped talking to people.

"We took too many people for granted," Perez continued, "and African Americans—our most loyal constituency—we all too frequently took for granted. That is a shame on us, folks, and for that I apologize. And for that I say, it will never happen again!"

Applause broke out before Perez could even finish his apology, heads nodding in acknowledgment and appreciation.

That he would choose this event, and this city, to try to make amends with black voters was significant. Thursday's gala was the party's first major 2018 fund-raiser to be held outside Washington, D.C., and the I Will Vote initiative it supported aims to bolster DNC efforts to register new voters; fight voter-suppression efforts in the United States; and, ultimately, turn out Democrats across the country in November.

High turnout among black voters was key to Barack Obama's two presidential victories, and dips in participation when he was not on the ballot contributed to the Democratic wipeouts in 2010 and 2014, and to Hillary Clinton's narrow losses in states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania in 2016. But there are signs of a revival, not only in response to Republican efforts to reverse Obama's legacy, but also in response to efforts to erect barriers to voting that disproportionately affect African Americans. In Virginia, strong black turnout helped elect Governor Ralph Northam and the state's second black lieutenant governor, Justin Fairfax, last November. A month later, black voters—and black women in particular—powered Doug Jones to victory over Roy Moore in Alabama's special Senate election.

This year, nowhere will black turnout be more crucial to Democratic hopes than in Georgia, where Stacey Abrams is vying to become the first African American woman elected governor of any state. Her nomination over Stacey Evans, a white woman, in May drew a surge of national attention, and the DNC's decision to hold Thursday's gala alongside an African American leadership summit in Atlanta brought major party donors to Abrams's home base.

[SOURCE: THE ATLANTIC]

Monday, April 02, 2018

Missouri State Legislator: Sen. McCaskill not engaging with black voters

Even though Sen. McCaskill's issues engaging black voters is taking place in Missouri, this should be a cautionary tale for all Democrats nationwide. Yes, you have to reach to and engage other bases that might not usually vote democratic but don't forget your base. Black voters are starting to feel taken for granted and while they won't vote Republican they just may stay home. George L. Cook III African American Reports.

African American leaders in Missouri are frustrated with what they see as Sen. Claire McCaskill’s lackluster engagement with minority voters.

Frustrated enough that they refused to sign a letter pushing back against comments made last month by Bruce Franks, a prominent black activist and state legislator from St. Louis, who called on McCaskill to “show up” and earn the support of minority voters in her state.

“I’m going to vote for Claire, but Claire is going to have to bring her ass to St. Louis,” Franks said to applause at a town hall he hosted Feb. 17.

In response to Franks comments, McCaskill had asked African American elected officials in Kansas City and St. Louis to sign the letter.

Among those who were approached by McCaskill are U.S. Reps. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City and Lacy Clay of St. Louis, and state Rep. Gail McCann Beatty, the minority leader in the Missouri House.

Each declined to sign.

“I’m 100 percent certain that nobody signed it,” Cleaver said in an interview Wednesday with The Kansas City Star. “We talked about it very seriously and strongly and every one of us said, ‘We’re going to support her, but signing this letter isn’t going to achieve what she wants. It’s just going to make people angry.’ ”

Cleaver said he’s sympathetic to McCaskill’s plight. She’s a Democrat running for re-election in a state Republican President Donald Trump won by nearly 19 points in 2016. He understands she must win over some right-leaning voters to survive.

But as McCaskill works to burnish her reputation as a centrist, Cleaver and other African American leaders said they worry she’ll leave minority voters on the left with the impression that she’s taking them for granted — and it could cost her turnout in the urban centers that are crucial to her base.

“The state is large and diverse, but she might need to take the campaign into the repair shop in the black communities,” Cleaver said. “I think if people see that she’s actually trying to win them over then I think it will be a benefit to her re-election.”

McCaskill’s campaign said she has a long record of standing with and fighting for Missouri’s African American community, starting with her time as a prosecutor and continuing with her work as a U.S. senator.

“Nothing has, or ever will, change that commitment,” said Meira Bernstein, McCaskill’s campaign spokeswoman, in a statement.

Read more: McCaskill asked black leaders to push back on criticism of her campaign. No one would.

Wednesday, August 09, 2017

Al Sharpton: 'Progressives' are shortchanging African Americans — again.

Food for thought! While African Americans are not monolithic and Al Sharpton does not speak for all of us, he is on target with this opinion piece that he wrote for USA Today about progressives failure to speak to African Americans. George L. Cook III African American Reports.

By Al Sharpton

Democrats might care about issues that are important to us. But are they fueling African-American participation or interest? Not even close.

When Jesse Jackson ran for president during the 1980s, as when I ran in 2004, there were progressives in America just like there are today. Those progressives were well meaning individuals and politicians who shared our views and strongly believed in what we believed in. Despite this progressive political presence, our presidential campaigns were so important and necessary because the voices of black, brown and poorer white voters were not heard by the elites in American politics and government. Our agendas were not getting carried out. There was a great deal of talk back then, but no real action. That same dynamic holds true today.

The press speaks a great deal about the supposed fact that the “Democratic base” is riled up and activated by the state of play in America. This assessment ignores the most important segment of that base: the African-American voter. We are not motivated by anyone right now. While Sen. Bernie Sanders did a remarkable job in the 2016 presidential primaries and went further than anyone thought possible, he did so without the African-American vote, losing among African-American voters by more than 50 percentage points.

While that progressive coalition purported to speak FOR the African-American voter, it did not talk TO African Americans. The so-called Hillary Clinton base of the party, while crushing Sanders, attracted substantially fewer black voters to turn out than in recent presidential primaries, and in the general election, running against a novice, the black voter turnout rate declined for the first time in 20 years in a presidential election, falling 7 percentage points compared to 2012. Arguably, that disinterested black vote cost Clinton the presidency.

Read more: Al Sharpton: 'Progressives' are shortchanging African Americans — again.

Sunday, November 06, 2016

Cory Booker goes to Philadelphia to get the black vote out

Seeking to close off any route for Donald Trump to get the 270 electoral votes he needs to be elected president, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker visited the city of Brotherly Love Saturday to ensure African-Americans went to the polls on Tuesday.

A strong black turnout in Pennsylvania's largest city could cancel Trump votes elsewhere and keep the Keystone State in the Democratic camp, improving Hillary Clinton's chances of becoming the first woman U.S. president.

"This state is going to determine which way our country goes," Booker said.

Booker (D-N.J.) was one of several surrogates of both parties who, like the candidates themselves, are fanning out to battleground states this weekend in advance of Election Day. Gov. Chris Christie originally was scheduled to visit Pennsylvania as well on Saturday, though his appearance was cancelled after two former aides were convicted in the Bridgegate trial.

He visited a black-owned barbershop, where pro-Clinton campaign signs such as "Love trumps hate" and "Stronger together" shared space with posters of the Negro League, Muhammad Ali standing over a fallen Sonny Liston, and Obama. He spoke before a group of blacks who were organizing get-out-the-vote efforts. And he addressed dozens of Clinton supporters at a storefront headquarters.

Booker delivered pep talks, posed for selfies, posted videos on Instagram, and asked those in attendance to give one hour, 48 minutes or even 32 minutes to make calls on Tuesday to ensure that Clinton backers go to the polls.

"This is one of those elections where it's forward or backward," he said at the barbershop. "We need to get our friends and our families out to vote."

Read more: Booker goes to Philadelphia to get the black vote out

Tuesday, September 06, 2016

Even Ben Carson believes Donald Trump should apologize for his "birther" involvment

During an interview with CNN"s Dan Tapper, Ben Carson agreed that it might be a good idea for Donald Trump to apologize for his role in the birther movement. No, you did not misread that it actually happened and you can watch the video below:

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Trump’s popularity with African-American voters polling at zero

So much for that "outreach" to black voters. Public Policy Polling released a preview of a new poll Monday night that showed Donald Trump’s favorability rating among African-American voters at 0 percent.

TRUMP FAV/UNFAV with African American voters is:


Fav: 0%

UnFav: 97%

Undecided 3%

[SOURCE: The Hill]

Monday, March 14, 2016

Surprise, black voters not voting for Trump

Before the Republican presidential primaries began, Donald Trump insisted that “I am going to do great with the African Americans…. The African Americans love me.”

Now that we are in Mid-March of 2016, there have been multiple states holding “open primaries” — primaries in which a person of any party may choose in which primary they will participate: Alabama, Arkansas, Michigan, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia.

This means that, if Donald Trump is right when he says “The African Americans love me,” black Americans will have departed the Democratic Party in droves in each state with open primaries to vote for the man they love so much: Donald Trump.

Did they? Let’s check American Community Survey and CNN exit poll data to find out.

Read more: In Open Primary After Open Primary, the Supposed Wave of Black Support for Donald Trump Fails to Appear

Monday, March 07, 2016

Memo To Bernie Sanders: All African Americans Don't Live In The Ghetto

George L. Cook III
I made this video after watching Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 03/06/16 Debate on CNN. I was upset by his use of the term "ghetto" when talking about African American issues and wanted to send this message to Sen. Sanders. George L. Cook III, AfricanAmericanReports.com

Memo To Sen #BernieSanders: All #AfricanAmerican People Don't Live in the Ghetto #Democrats @AAReports
Posted by George L. Cook III on Monday, March 7, 2016



Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Bernie Sanders: African-Americans will like me when they learn my record

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said Sunday that while he may be trailing among minority voters in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, that would change as soon as those voters learned more about him.

"When the African-American community becomes familiar with my congressional record and with our agenda and with our views on the economy and criminal justice, just as the general population has become more supportive, so will the African-American community, so will the Latino community. We have the momentum. We are on a path to victory," he said during the Democratic debate Sunday evening.

Read more: Sanders: African-Americans will like me when they learn my record