A Great Way to “Listen to Black Women” is to Elect Them
Black women have made tremendous strides in representation as big-city mayors, with 12 Black women taking office for the first time as mayors in the top 100 most populous cities from mid-2014 to present. Today, just three Black Republican women serve as state legislators and no Black Republican women serve in statewide or congressional offices. Just two Black women have ever served in the U.S. Senate, and there are no Black women senators serving today amidst key debates over the economy, infrastructure, the environment, voting rights, criminal justice, and immigration. You can support Black women on the campaign trail with your time and your money, and you can support Black women at the ballot box with your vote. You can listen to Black women by ensuring they have seats at policymaking tables where their voices, expertise, and perspectives can inform substantive change.
thewestsidegazette.comRepublican Burgess Owens defeats Utah congressman McAdams
Burgess Owens, Republican candidate in Utah's 4th Congressional District, speaks with people during an Utah Republican election night party Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Sandy, Utah. The hard-fought race for a congressional swing district in Utah remained too early to call on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, with just 18 votes separating the candidates and many left to count. Democratic Congressman Ben McAdams is running for a second term against former NFL player Owens, a Black conservative supporter of President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Republican Burgess Owens unseats Utah congressman McAdams
Burgess Owens, Republican candidate in Utah's 4th Congressional District, speaks with people during an Utah Republican election night party Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Sandy, Utah. Democratic Congressman Ben McAdams is running for a second term against former NFL player Owens, a Black conservative supporter of President Donald Trump. Owens won by less than 1% of the votes in a district that has seen razor-thin margins over the last decade. Trump congratulated Owens over the weekend, saying in a tweet: “Great going Burgess, you continue to be a STAR! ”Owens took to Twitter Monday afternoon to thank McAdams and the people of Utah for the opportunity to serve.
Black GOP House candidate praises Trump in convention speech
Owens, a former NFL player and Fox News commentator, handily won the Republican primary by running to the right of his opponents. The political newcomer is trying to reclaim the suburban Salt Lake City district once held by Mia Love, another Black conservative who was the first Black Republican woman elected to the House. But some Republicans are pushing back on QAnon, and the appearance could become a liability in the swing suburban district. One former Republican state lawmaker called on Owens appearance to be pulled from the convention, saying even the appearance of a connection with QAnon should disqualify him. The convention has featured other Republicans of color as Trump seeks to expand his voting base, including Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and former U.N.