words by Charles Brooks
AND STILL NO BLACK
GOVERNORS
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Photo credit: Onasill ~ Bill - 72m
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When the smoke cleared after the 2018 elections finally
ended – there are still zero black governors. The last African American elected
to the governors’ mansion was Deval Patrick in Massachusetts, and that was ten
years ago. The challenge for black
candidates for state wide offices like governor is building a campaign that
also appeals beyond their local base to white moderate Democrats throughout the
state. Nevertheless, the 2018 elections witnessed history in a sense in that
not one but three blacks – including one woman - ran as the Democratic Party’s
nominee for the Governor’s seat.
Although all three lost their elections, there’s some comfort to be
taken from the elections results and exit poll data.
