Draft op-ed: Communities of color will be the deciders in 2020
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Communities of color are expected to play a crucial role in the outcome of the 2020 election, as they seek authentic candidates who address their concerns, including health care and economic disparities. Voters are increasingly engaged, demonstrated by their participation in 2018, and they expect candidates to demonstrate genuine commitment to their values. The Democratic candidates must prioritize building connections with these voters early, moving beyond mere election-time outreach to secure support from this critical demographic.
Draft op-ed: Communities of color will be the deciders in 2020
- 1. Communities of color will be the deciders in 2020 We are living in a populist moment. Working families across the country are angry and scared, feeling increasingly unsure about the future. They want answers and accountability from our elected officials and are attending Democratic candidate forums, town halls, and meet-and-greets in record numbers, wanting to hear the candidates talk about how they will fix our nation’s problems. As these voters watch this week’s first two-night Democratic debate, they’ll be looking to see which candidates step forward, presenting themselves as authentic, smart and unifying to an increasingly diverse, but divided country. Voters are looking for an authentic brand of populism that addresses their concerns about health care, the growing wealth gap, and exploding child care costs, which are keeping them awake at night. A number of the Democratic candidates seem focused on engaging the voters who were Obama supporters before switching to Trump, thinking it’s their best path to victory. But they should reconsider, and not risk taking communities of color for granted. A couple of them have already made missteps in Florida, not seeming to realize the state has one of the most diverse voter rolls in the nation. They came out in force in 2018, voting to pass an amendment that allows the formerly incarcerated to vote and flipping state seats, while also coming within a whisper of electing a Democratic governor for the first time in nearly three decades. The state will be ground-zero once again in 2020. Donald Trump launched his re-election in Florida last week, and his team is already on the ground, working to making inroads with the state’s increasing number of Latino voters. Communities of color made the difference last year and are poised to be the difference-makers again. Black voters who tuned out of the 2016 election, re-engaged in 2018 and helped to make the difference in Florida and Nevada along with other voters of color. Asian voters–the fastest growing racial group in the United States–who once hesitated to choose a party affiliation are increasingly selecting the Democratic party. One fact the Democratic candidates need to grasp is that the road to winning the White House in November 2020 runs directly through communities of color.
- 2. Candidates should understand by now that these voters have the same concerns as the Trump voters some are so anxious to bring back into the Democratic fold. Their families struggle to get by and often work multiple jobs to pay the bills. Women who are a majority of the family care workforce, earn such small salaries that half depend on at least one form of government assistance to get by, and more young people than ever are leaving college with staggering amounts of debt. What I hope the candidates remember as they stand at their podiums during the debate this week is that voters of color are looking for candidates who actually live our nation’s values, not just talk about them at rallies. It is essential for voters to see and hear them actively supporting the ideals of freedom, respect, and opportunity for every person in this country regardless of their race or birth country. Voters of color will be paying close attention to what the 20 candidates have to say, and they will sharing their opinions with friends and families as the election draws near. Smart candidates who invest resources in our communities early and often to engage these voters, and show their authenticity and interest in prioritizing the voters’ concerns will have a leg up on their opponents. Pandering to voters of color just before an election is no longer an option. Community Change Action is working with communities of color, women and young people to build an electoral engine that will reach our nation’s most infrequent voters, who if not engaged by a trusted friend or family member may decide to sit out the election. Our goal of engaging 250,000 voters across many states may not seem ambitious to some, but it only took 78,000 votes to elect Donald Trump president. Given that each of candidates will only have minutes apiece to make an impression with votes this week, It will be interesting to see how they build on the debate’s momentum to begin solidifying their connections with voters hungry for a brand of populism they can trust. ###