ON THE RISE
Black women are mobilizing to run for Congress
WASHINGTON – Lauren Underwood was angry her Illinois congressman voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. ❚ Omeria Scott thought poor Mississippians needed someone who cared more about their concerns. ❚ Pam Keith felt her experience as a Navy officer made her well-equipped to fight for voters in her Florida district. ❚ “I said: ‘It’s on. I’m running. We deserve better,’ ” said Underwood, a nurse whose Democratic primary is Tuesday.
Underwood, Scott and Keith are part of a groundswell of interest from women of color, particularly African-American women, in running for Congress this year. The trend comes against the backdrop of the Me Too movement against sexual harassment, the historic Women’s March and the crucial role black women are playing in elections.
“Black women are recognizing more and more the power we have in our vote,” said Melanie Campbell, president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable Public Policy Network. “It’s not just electing public officials but being elected ourselves.”
Hundreds of women from across the country joined the Black Women’s Roundtable in the Washington, D.C., area this past week for a conference called “Time for a Power Shift.” The conference included sessions on running for office, community organizing and protecting voting rights.
President Trump’s election spurred more women, particularly women of color, to get more politically involved.
“If people were thinking about running, (they felt) that now was the time to stand up, speak up for yourself to get a seat at the table,” said Rep. Robin Kelly, a Democrat from Illinois and cochairwoman of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls. “I think women felt empowered.”
Emily’s List started its Run to Win, a training initiative set up after the election, in response to the wave of women interested in running for office, spokeswoman Vanessa Cardenas said. She said African-American women outnumbered all other participants at several training sessions.
“We know that black women are really driving the support when it comes to Democrats,” Cardenas said. “They’re the backbone of the Democratic Party when it comes to voting and participation. It is very real.”