Election Day countdown: 138 days
Hi friends,
As we commemorate Juneteenth this week, we elevate the extraordinary Black candidates who’ve broken barriers throughout history like Shirley Chisholm, Jesse Jackson, Carol Moseley Braun, and Barack Obama. We, also, celebrate those leading today like Desiree Tims, Pat Timmons-Goodson, and Jaime Harrison.
Despite the extraordinary barriers placed in their way, Black Americans show up. They have the highest voter turnout, as a voting bloc, when candidates who represent their interests, often candidates of color, run. Black Lives Matter, their votes matter, and their candidacies matter, too.
Learn and Act
Today! @ 7:30pm ET: Meet Founder of the Black Male Voter Project Mondale Robinson. They are the only national organization focused on increasing Black men’s participation in electoral politics.
Thursday, June 25th @ 8pm ET: Introducing Candidate of the Week Pat Timmons-Goodson for Congress (NC-08). More on her below!
Shout outs
Special event: Barack Obama is making his first joint appearance with Joe Biden of the campaign at a grassroots fundraiser on Thursday, June 23rd @ 5:15pm.
Ben Leiner organized 60+ business school leaders to support the Biden campaign. Join these young leaders.
Charles DeLoach is working with Organizing Together and hosting North Carolina State Senator Jeff Jackson tonight at 6pm ET.
Jared Kleinert, Founder of Meeting of the Minds, featured The Next 50 for his upcoming quarterly event.
Khaair and Tunisia Morrison organized a conversation with NYC leaders to discuss dismantling racism in the nightlife industry.
Michelle Neiderman and Ally Horn are auctioning off 10 copies of their book Everyone Dissociates, starting at $100, to benefit Color of Change. All proceeds will be matched! Reply to bid.
The Next 50 hosted last week’s exceptional Candidate of the Week Desiree Tims. Thanks to Bo Machayo for the introduction!
Are we missing any political work that you are up to that you’d like to share? Reply and let us know!
Candidate of the Week
About the candidate: Pat Timmons-Goodson was born into a military family. At 29 years old, she became the first African American District Court Judge in the 12th District of North Carolina. She then became the first African American woman to serve on the state's Supreme Court. After retiring from the Court, she served in the Obama Administration and was ultimately appointed to a federal court nomination – only to have that blocked by Mitch McConnell.
About this contested race: North Carolina’s newly drawn 8th Congressional District is now far more Democratic than it has previously been. Democratic turnout in this district is critical to statewide races for President, US Senate and Governor. Additionally, there are 6 competitive NC State House Districts in NC-08, including 4 Democratic pickup opportunities. This is a DCCC Red to Blue race and a very high impact investment!
What we are reading
Landmark LGBTQ+ victory: “The Court’s decision is by far the most consequential in the decades-long history of the American L.G.B.T.Q. movement...although not everyone gets married, or wants to, most American adults work.” (The New Yorker)
99 years later: “The first time in American history that airplanes were used to terrorize America was not in 9/11, was not at Pearl Harbor, it was right here in the Greenwood District.” (CBS News)
Coronavirus spike: “Arizona is now reporting an average of more than 1,500 cases a day... It’s one of several states in the South and West, including Texas, Florida, and Oregon, that are seeing a record number of coronavirus cases in recent weeks.” (The Atlantic)
In solidarity,
Zak
P.S. If you liked what you read, recommend a friend and provide feedback here.
P.P.S. I love good news: Celebrating a second major Supreme Court victory this week!