It’s Time for Black Millennials to Utilize Our Voting Power
The black vote is powerful.
Andrew Gillum winning the Democratic primary in Florida and Justin Fairfax being elected to lieutenant governor last year for the state of Virginia, was largely due to the Black vote. Since being elected, Fairfax has put efforts forward that have helped 400,000 low-income residents in the state of Virginia receive Medicaid. By recognizing our influence, we can work towards electing Black candidates that are focused on bringing forth issues and policies important to our communities.
According to the New York Times, Black women were the highest rated group that voted across race, gender and ethnicity in the 2012 presidential elections.
With the 2018 midterm election approaching, it is especially essential for us to utilize our right to vote in an effort to build Black political power. Police brutality, college debt, affordable housing, prison reform, education and healthcare are just a few of the many issues that need to be addressed in our community and one vote can help ignite political change.
Midterm elections will allow us to decide which officials will take control of federal and state houses across the nation for the last half of President Trump’s term.
All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are open but only 48 are considered competitive. Currently, the House is comprised of mostly Republican Party members. Out of the 100 United States Senate seats, there are 35 of them up for grabs. There are also 36 Governor races and thousands of state-level representatives that will be voted in or out of office as well.