Candidate diversity livens up November races
Black, female, gay nominees join Dems on ballots in contrast to Trump’s GOP
WASHINGTON — Democratic nominees for governor include three African-Americans, two of them in the old Confederacy, a prospect that not long ago would have been unthinkable. Record numbers of women are competing in congressional races. Elsewhere, Muslims, gays, lesbians and transgender people will be on the ballot for high-profile offices.
That diverse cast is teeing up a striking contrast for voters in November at a time when some in the Republican Party, taking their cues from President Donald Trump, are embracing messages with explicit appeals to racial anxieties and resentment. The result is making racial and ethnic issues and conflicts central in the November elections in a way that’s far more explicit than the recent past.
Trump and his Republican allies have made crime, violence, gangs and societal unrest a centerpiece of their attacks against Democrats in this election, often linking them to causes that have a common racial thread — the policies of liberal leaders in heavily minority cities, illegal immigration and Trump’s continuing campaign impugn-
WASHINGTON — Democratic nominees for governor include three AfricanAmericans, two of them in the old Confederacy, a prospect that not long ago would have been unthinkable. Record numbers of women are competing in congressional races. Elsewhere, Muslims, gays, lesbians and transgender people will be on the ballot for high-profile offices.
That diverse cast is teeing up a striking contrast for voters in November at a time when some in the Republican Party, taking their cues from President Donald Trump, are embracing messages with explicit appeals to racial anxieties and resentment. The result is making racial and ethnic issues and conflicts central in the November elections.
A possible preview played out Wednesday barely 12 hours after Andrew Gillum, the African-American mayor of Tallahassee, won a surprising victory in Florida’s Democratic primary for governor.
Gillum’s opponent, Ron DeSantis, said in an interview on Fox News that voters should not take a gamble on Gillum because he would “monkey up” the progress made under Florida’s current Republican governor, Rick Scott.
Democrats heard racist dog whistles. For Gillum, the sound was a little louder. “Bullhorns,” he said. DeSantis called the criticism “absurd” and insisted he was purposely being taken out context. The threeterm congressman and Navy veteran is an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump, who essentially secured DeSantis’ victory with a Twitter endorsement and subsequent rally in Tampa. He paid homage to Trump in a campaign ad showing him teaching his daughter to read as he sounds out “Make America Great Again” from a Trump placard.
Gillum used the tussle to get airtime on Fox News himself, seeking to harness the publicity he received from his surprise win into the sort of major fundraising that previously eluded him.
Democrats immediately denounced DeSantis’ words, which are freighted with a condescending and racist meaning for many blacks. Fox News issued a rare statement disavowing the remarks.
Racial discord has never been far from the surface of American politics. But critics say any effort by Republicans to tread lightly around racially sensitive issues has been tossed aside by Trump.
Many candidates, however, see little reason to want to escape Trump’s shadow given his overwhelming popularity with Republican voters — which Gallup measured at 85 percent in its most recent poll.