November 4 brought victories for new Black mayors across the nation. Let’s get right into our wins.
Ballot Measure Victories: Californians passed Prop 50, a redistricting measure designed to counter unfairly gerrymandered congressional maps, aiming to add five Democratic seats to the House. In Maine, efforts to disenfranchise voters fell short. Coloradans approved raising taxes on households earning more than $300,000 to fund food assistance and school meals.
New Black (And Young!) Governance Nationwide: Of course, not all skinfolk is kinfolk. But we have some historic hopefuls. This includes several Black woman mayors, like Syracuse’s Sharon Owens, Albany’s Dorcey Applyrs, and Detroit’s Mary Sheffield. In Stockbridge, Georgia, the incumbent mayor lost to 22-year-old Clark Atlanta grad Jayden Williams. In Virginia, 36-year-old Jay Jones became Virginia’s first Black attorney general.
Republicans Are Slipping: MAGA is triggered – hence the president’s response: “TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT.” Two cases: Georgians voted bluer than usual because Georgia Power has hiked up their electric bills. Democrats also broke the Republican supermajority in Mississippi’s Senate.
The fight against anti-Black violence, ICE and police violence, and much more, goes on. It doesn’t begin or end on Election Day. However, we’re seeing tangible results of community members successfully mobilizing for better conditions—and feeling sparks of hope. And that’s always worth celebrating.