Politics
Calls for United Response for Florida Boycott
by Charlene Muhammad
Special to the NNPA from The Final Call
Dream Defenders and their supporters protest July 26, outside Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s office in the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. Dream Defenders were joined by American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist Harry Belafonte, Jr. as they went into their 11th day of a sit-in of Scott’s office. The sit-in is their response to the ‘not guilty’ verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman, the Florida neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot Trayvon Martin. They are continuing to demand Scott call a special session. Photos: (Haroon Raja’ee and A/P Wide World photos/Phil Sears)
(FinalCall.com) – Calls for a boycott in the wake of a Florida jury’s acquittal of the man who killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin have raised questions about whether Black America’s financial divestment from the tourist state would produce a strong enough economic chokehold to forge meaningful changes in its gun laws, given one juror’s claim law forced the six-person jury to set the killer free.
The boycott calls also raise questions and recommendations about what Blacks should do with the money pulled out of the Sunshine State—and what could be done with hard earned dollars whether a nationwide boycott is launched or not.
According to the governor’s office, visitors to Florida spent a record $71.8 billion in 2012, an increase of 6.8 percent over 2011. “This represents a record year of spending in 2012 by tourists in Florida, exceeding the previous highs of $67.2 billion in 2011 and $65.5 billion in 2007,” according to Gov. Rick Scott. “Travelers to Florida spent an additional $4.6 billion in 2012, marking the second consecutive record year for visitor spending in the Sunshine State. Florida’s tourism industry is critical to Florida families as it serves as a vital source of revenue to the state and a key driver of employment,” he said earlier this year.
Visit Florida, the official destination marketing organization, reported 2012 visitors spent over 500 million vacation nights and nearly $72 billion in the state, the world’s top vacation destination.
Sybrina Fulton Mother of Trayvon Martin Photo: [email protected]
Florida is also a leader in agriculture and other industries: According to state figures, 40 percent of all U.S. exports to Latin and South America pass through Florida; the space industry represents $4.1 billion of the state’s economy and employs 33,000 aerospace workers; the state produces about 67 percent of the U.S. oranges and accounts for about 40 percent of the world’s orange juice supply, and has significant income and jobs in service, software, health technology and university research.
Hurt Florida, but help self
Financial experts interviewed by The Final Call say economic pressure over the July 13 acquittal of George Zimmerman on second-degree murder charges presents a great opportunity for Blacks to address a growing wealth gap with White America.
“There’s a lot of noise out there regarding the Zimmerman–Trayvon case and we boycott all the time. We just don’t realize it. Probably the biggest boycott that Black America is involved in right now is our own community, our own race,” said Dr. Dennis Kimbro, a researcher, educator and best selling author.
Dr. Kimbro was referring to the $1.2 trillion economists say leaves the Black community each year, when many Black-owned businesses provide some of the same, if not better, goods and services as outsiders.
If Blacks exercised greater spending among themselves, it would not only close the wealth gap, but Blacks would have a surplus, Dr. Kimbro insisted.
“Now, it’s easier said than done in terms of Florida, simply because you’re dealing with Marketing 101 and you’re dealing with a new generation of African Americans who really, I don’t want to use the term ‘have yet been tested,’ but we don’t know their commitment level,” Dr. Kimbro said.
He compared the post-verdict conditions to when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1958. There were only five Black millionaires in the United States then, he noted. But today, there are 35,000 Black millionaires and five Black billionaires, he continued.
Yet, Dr. King was savvy and entrepreneurial in his effort to raise awareness about the boycott, Dr. Kimbro said. The boycott was scheduled to take place only on December 1, but since Dr. King had 99 percent participation in Montgomery’s Black community, he decided to extend the action and attach some demands to it, according to Dr. Kimbro.
Black America should do the same thing now, he argued. He recommends taking a stand on one particular day or month and if participation is effective, extend the Florida boycott.
“But to just say we’re going to boycott economically Florida, that’s a little bit haphazard and the buy-in level, you’ll get better buy-in if you go from the broad to the narrow, from the general to the specific,” he added.
To date, a host of entertainers and organizations have dropped plans to perform in Florida unless and until it gets rid of its controversial Stand Your Ground law. The law allows citizens to use deadly force if they feel threatened, even when there’s an alternative exit.
Iconic R&B artist Stevie Wonder bolstered desires to boycott when he announced he would not perform in Florida or any state that has similar laws.
Since then, media reports indicate, entertainers Eddie Levert of the O’Jays and gospel duo Mary Mary have confirmed they have joined Mr. Wonder in his boycott. Kanye West, Rod Stewart, Madonna, Usher, Trey Songz, Young Jeezy, Rhihanna, Alicia Keys and Dionne Warwick have reportedly also vowed not to perform in Florida.
“I take my hat off to Stevie and Stevie has a strong activist and social responsibility mode. He’s not new to this game and he’s one of the brothers fighting in the trenches. But again, you’ve got to look at this as not only a media ploy but you’ve got to use Marketing 101 in order for this to be effective,” Dr. Kimbro said.
Goals, timelines and targets needed
First, progress the starting point from Stevie Wonder and heighten awareness by making sure whether in New York, Miami, Houston, L.A. or Seattle, the Black community gets the word out, he instructed. Second, figure out a time period, he added.
“Are we going to do this ad-infinitum? And who are we really going after? Are you going after Stand Your Ground, or if you’re saying we’re not going to buy orange juice. We’re not going to buy grapefruits, there’s a market segment that agrees with us on this Stand Your Ground that’s going to be wiped out and that’s migrant workers in Florida, a Hispanic community,” Dr. Kimbro said.
Black, White, Brown, and Asian—use everyone concerned about this problem and amenable to boycotting to map out an effective strategy, he continued.
Reverend Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, has argued for stopping conventions and boycotting Florida as an “apartheid state.”
According to Reverend K.W. Tulloss, of Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network’s Los Angeles chapter, the civil rights leader and host of MSNBC’s “Politics Nation” has not yet issued an official position.
“We are exploring all options regarding the next steps on Florida … Our focus right now is these Stand Your Ground laws,” Rev. Tulloss said.
In listening to the pulse of the people, Rev. Tulloss said many have indicated small boycotts are already taking place, such as not buying orange juice. But a real dialogue must occur between those for and those against a boycott in order to determine the real costs to the masses, the loss to Blacks, allies in Florida, and any potential impact, he said.
A national boycott would impact many people, particularly in Florida, but any effective outcome would require sacrifice, which is part of the struggle, he continued.
“I just hope the community remains engaged around Trayvon Martin and the calls for the Justice Department to investigate and I hope we can continue to better serve our community,” Rev. Tulloss added.
Dr. Harry Alford, president and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, said a boycott is not a prudent response in this case.
What happened was indeed tragic and a response is in order, but the people of Florida weren’t the perpetrators, particularly the 3.4 million Black folks who live there, nor the businesses they own, he said.
“I don’t think we should bring the wrath down on them because they did not cause this mess. I think it’s kind of like shooting your foot to prove a point and I don’t think it would succeed. There’s no clearcut vision like apartheid in South Africa, but it was a clearcut villain,” Dr. Alford toldThe Final Call.
An international boycott of South Africa forced the end of apartheid, a legalized system of racial segregation in which the White minority ruled and discriminated against the Black majority.
Similarly with the Montgomery Bus Boycott, it was Blacks boycotting the White power structure and White owners of busses that directly affected the races, Dr. Alford noted. “We’d rather walk than to do business with them. When it’s clear cut like that, it works. I don’t see how that would work in Florida,” said Dr. Alford.
The problem is further complicated because society is not as overtly segregated as it used to be. People can’t so easily choose to only go to Black theaters, Black grocery stores, or Black gas stations.
He feels Blacks lack the money to really impact somebody in a boycott and more unity is needed. He recommends using the power of the Black vote in Florida to help change the law.
Dr. Alford recommends Blacks use their trillion dollar income after taxes to do business with Black-owned institutions. “We need to look in the mirror. I’ll go back to Booker T. Washington and Marcus Garvey and Elijah Muhammad. They all preached it: if we own our own businesses and do business with each other, we would prosper. All three of them said that.”
Dr. Kimbro concurred, stating, whether entertainers or everyday people boycott Florida or not, the Black community still has a lot of economic work to do.
Sometimes objectives are met and sometimes compromise becomes necessary but at the end of the day objectives must be solidified, he said. In this case, that means deciding whether it’s to repeal Stand Your Ground, heighten awareness, or target Black spending habits, he said.
Black History
HISTORY MADE: Keisha Lance Bottoms Becomes First Black Woman Elected Governor in American History
ATLANTA DAILY WORLD — History has been made in Georgia. Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, has been elected governor of Georgia, becoming the first Black woman in American history to win the highest executive office in any state.
History has been made in Georgia. Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, has been elected governor of Georgia, becoming the first Black woman in American history to win the highest executive office in any state.
Bottoms’ victory over Republican businessman Rick Jackson represents a defining moment in American politics, breaking a barrier that has stood since the nation’s founding and placing Georgia at the center of a historic political transformation.
For generations, Black women have played a critical role in American democracy, organizing communities, leading movements, mobilizing voters and shaping public policy. Yet despite their contributions, no Black woman had ever been elected governor of a U.S. state.
Until now.
Bottoms’ election also makes her the first woman and first Black person elected governor of Georgia, a state whose political history has been deeply shaped by slavery, segregation, the civil rights movement and the long struggle for equal representation.
Her victory carries particular significance in a state where Black women have been among the most influential forces in voter registration, political organizing and Democratic electoral success.
A fifth-generation Georgian, Bottoms previously served as Atlanta’s 60th mayor from 2018 to 2022. During her administration, she led the city through the COVID-19 pandemic, nationwide protests over racial injustice and a period of significant economic and population growth.
Following her time as mayor, Bottoms served as a senior adviser in President Joe Biden’s administration before returning to Georgia politics to pursue the governorship.
Her campaign focused on expanding access to health care, strengthening public education, increasing wages and addressing the rising cost of living. She also advocated for expanding Medicaid, raising Georgia’s minimum wage to $15 an hour and increasing compensation for teachers and other public employees.
Bottoms faced Jackson, a wealthy health care executive who invested heavily in his campaign and positioned himself as a political outsider. The contest drew national attention as Democrats sought to reclaim the Georgia governor’s office after more than two decades of Republican control.
The historic nature of Bottoms’ victory extends well beyond party politics.
Georgia, once at the center of some of America’s most consequential civil rights battles, has now elected a Black woman to lead its state government. It is a milestone that reflects generations of political participation, organizing and leadership by Black Georgians.
For Atlanta, the moment is especially significant. A former mayor of the city that helped shape the modern civil rights movement will now lead the entire state.
Bottoms’ election opens a new chapter in Georgia’s political history and establishes a milestone that will be remembered far beyond the 2026 election.
For continuing election coverage and results, visit AtlantaDailyWorld.com/election26.
Black History
Hundreds of Black Christian Leaders Arriving in Israel for Martin Luther King-Inspired Mission
Hundreds of African American and African Christian leaders are visiting Israel for the ‘Unfinished Business Pilgrimage,’ inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King’s plans for a pilgrimage in 1967 that was canceled due to the Six Day War. The event aims to promote pro-Israel sentiments amidst rising antisemitism and will expand to thousands of participants in 2027. Pastor Dumisani Washington emphasizes the importance of Black Americans recognizing their role in supporting Israel. Pilgrimage leaders are also delivering gifts to victims of recent violence, reiterating the historical bond between Jewish and Black communities in advocating for justice. Pastor Michael A. Stevens highlights the need for education against antisemitism while suggesting that Israel should be more attuned to issues affecting Black lives.
As support for Israel declines precipitously in the US, hundreds of African-American and African pastors and Christian leaders are arriving in Israel this week for a mission inspired by the slain US civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.
King planned to bring thousands of pilgrims to Israel and Jordan in 1967, but that trip was postponed because of the Six Day War and the political implications of such a trip. He said he would look into coming the next year, but was assassinated in April 1968.
“There were no mass pilgrimages” back then, says Pastor Dumisani Washington, a pro-Israel activist, at a press conference in Jerusalem. “We as Black Americans recognize that Black Americans were about to start something that no one else was doing.”
The “Unfinished Business Pilgrimage” will expand to thousands of participants next year, say organizers, to mark 60 years since King’s planned visit.
“We felt a burden in our heart,” Washington continues. “We see the rising antisemitism on the right and on the left.”
There is a “mountain of support rising from the Black church,” says Pastor Michael A. Stevens, Sr.
The leaders of the pilgrimage present gifts to victims of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, massacre, including freed hostage Elkana Bohbot; Hila Abir, whose brother Lotan was murdered at the Nova music festival; and Daniel Lischinsky, whose son Yaron was murdered alongside his fiancée Sarah Milgrim at an Israeli embassy event in Washington, DC.
Ther rest of the participants arrive tomorrow, and will visit biblical sites across the country, as well as the site of the Nova massacre.
Steven says that Jewish and Black Americans had a tradition of coming together to “establish what was right, and to set the tone for the nation and for the world.”
“If anyone should stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters, it ought to be African-Americans, it ought to be Africans,” he continues.
Though rates of antisemitism have risen among people of color, Stevens tells The Times of Israel, “I still think we are the lowest-hanging fruit to educate and to learn.” He says, “The African-American Church is still the most influential institution in all of America, in fact, at least in the Black community.”
Stevens says one of the objectives of the mission is to spread awareness that “we cannot have antisemitism in our culture, period.”
At the same time, he says that Israel could improve its approach to Black America: “I believe Israel could be more attentive to the fact that a lot of the loss of lives that we see looks like us. Whether it’s in Gaza, whether it’s Ethiopians and racism.”
Reverend Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis. Jr. is on this delegation representing the Black Press of America and Spill the Honey as a present-day fulfillment of the dream and prior plan of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in 1967 to lead a 5000 Black Clergy Pilgrimage to Israel.
Black Press
DOJ Fights to Keep Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Search Warrant Sealed: Report
GARLAND JOURNAL — Federal prosecutors are petitioning a U.S. District Court to maintain the seal on a search warrant and related records following an FBI search of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., home.
Federal prosecutors are trying to keep sealed the search warrant and related records from and FBI search of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., home earlier this month.
According to The Washington Post, a coalition of more than a dozen media organizations, including the Post, is seeking access to the warrant and related records. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, is overseeing the dispute.
In a Tuesday (October 27) court filing, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro argued that the request was premature because investigators are still reviewing evidence seized during the October 12 search and have not decided whether to file charges or whom to charge.
“This request sounds rash because it is rash,” Pirro wrote, according to The Hill. She argued that releasing the records could expose investigative sources and compromise the probe.
“Unsealing everything now imperils the investigation,” the Justice Department wrote, according to the Post.
The media organizations argue that the warrant application and supporting affidavit could reveal the investigation’s targets, the evidence investigators have gathered, and how the probe began, according to the Post.
The October 12 search was part of a federal investigation into allegations that Omar or members of her family misrepresented information on immigration paperwork. The congresswoman has denied wrongdoing and accused the Trump administration of politically targeting her.
As BIN previously reported, the Trump administration has also explored whether Omar could be stripped of her U.S. citizenship.
During an MS NOW interview on Wednesday (October 21), Omar announced plans to move out of her Washington residence, citing safety concerns after the search made her address public.
According to The Washington Post, prosecutors said in the filing that they may not oppose releasing some warrant records, with appropriate redactions, once the warrant has been fully executed and a public charging decision has been announced.
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on theiHeartRadio appor clickHEREto tune in live. In this article:DOJ Fights To Keep Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Search Warrant Sealed, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg
Based on reporting by Garland Journal.
Black Press
Oakland NAACP, BWOPA Speak Out Against Alleged Harassment of Black Women Political Leaders
The Oakland NAACP and the Oakland/Berkeley chapter of Black Women Organized for Political Action have issued a joint statement condemning a pattern of harassment, intimidation, and discrimination directed at Black women in politics. Leadership from both organizations noted that these concerns reflect a rise in online hostility and political attacks against public servants. The allegations emerged amid a contentious race for the Oakland Unified School District Board of Education, prompting a public debate over accountability and political conduct. Read more to learn how the involved parties have responded.
The Oakland branch of the NAACP and the Oakland/Berkeley chapter of Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) have issued a joint statement condemning what they describe as harassment, intimidation and discrimination targeting Black women in politics.
Founded in 1968, BWOPA is a California-based nonprofit advocacy and membership organization that is focused on increasing Black women’s participation and influence in the political process.
Danielle Motley-Lewis, president of BWOPA’s Oakland/Berkeley chapter, told California Black Media (CBM) that the statement reflects growing concerns about online hostility and political attacks directed at Black women candidates, elected officials and public servants.
“These allegations deserve serious attention and should not be dismissed as ordinary political disagreements,” the organizations said in their statement.
The concerns have surfaced amid a contentious race for the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Board of Education’s District 6 seat, where candidate LeAna Powell has reported experiencing harassment during her campaign.
Powell is running against Alexandra Williams and incumbent Valarie Bachelor, the school board’s vice president. All three candidates are Black women.
Motley-Lewis said the organizations’ statement addresses concerns extending beyond the school board contest, although Powell’s experiences helped bring the issue into focus.
“I could only speak to what I witnessed on social media. There were various types of harassment online,” Motley-Lewis said of the back-and-forth about the candidates online.
“It was unnerving.”
Powell, a former aide to former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, previously filed an informal complaint with the Oakland Public Ethics Commission alleging that Thao, then a City Council member, pressured city employees to work on her mayoral campaign.
Thao was recalled in November 2024 and left office Dec. 17 of that year. She subsequently faced federal charges related to an alleged bribery scheme. The criminal proceedings are separate from the dispute involving Powell’s school board campaign.
Powell also filed a complaint with the NAACP concerning what she described as harassment during her campaign.
Among those publicly criticizing Powell is Brandon Harami, a former Oakland mayoral staffer and LGBTQ+ advocate who said he previously worked with Powell in Thao’s office.
In a Sept. 27 Facebook post, Harami questioned Powell’s qualifications, judgment and political associations.
“District 6 candidate for School Board LeAna Powell does not have the maturity nor spine required to be on the school board,” Harami wrote.
Motley-Lewis said the organizations had documented or witnessed conduct they considered troubling, although she emphasized that their concerns were not limited to Harami or Powell.
Harami has denied the allegations and accused the organizations of misrepresenting his conduct.
In an Oct. 11 Instagram post, he called the joint statement a political smear and demanded that BWOPA and the Oakland NAACP retract it.
He argued that the organizations’ characterization of his actions unfairly portrayed him as having a history of harassment and discrimination. He also contended that the allegations were being used to silence LGBTQ+ voices.
Motley-Lewis said she declined Harami’s request for a retraction because the statement addressed a broader pattern of conduct affecting Black women in politics.
“I was open to brokering that conversation. However, (Harami) was unwilling,” Motley-Lewis said. “He did reach out to BWOP to retract our statement, and I advised him that I would not be doing that. The statement that he was included in (addressed) a broader problem that is experienced by various women.”
Black Press
SEIU Local 1000 and State of California Will Continue to Negotiate New Labor Contract
Thousands of California state employees represented by SEIU Local 1000 recently staged a one-day walkout to protest stalled contract negotiations with Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration. The union, which represents approximately 100,000 public workers, is demanding a 20% wage increase over three years and an end to mandatory four-day in-person work requirements. While the initial strike has concluded, union leadership warns that further demonstrations are likely if the state continues to reject their demands for better pay and telework flexibility. Negotiations are expected to continue as both sides seek a resolution. Read more.
After the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000 labor contract expired June 30 and talks with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration stalled, the union stepped up its efforts to secure a new agreement, saying its demands had gone unheeded.
On Oct. 21, thousands of state employees represented by SEIU Local 1000 staged a one-day walkout to protest alleged unfair labor practices during negotiations with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration.
Although the strike has ended, SEIU Local 1000 President Anica Walls said further demonstrations or an expanded strike are highly likely if contract negotiations remain stalled. The union represents approximately 100,000 public employees statewide.
“We are out here because our jobs matter,” Wells said. “If they continue to refuse to bargain with us in good faith, we are prepared to escalate.”
Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) expressed support for SEIU Local 1000’s labor action in an Instagram post, emphasizing the importance of fair treatment for workers.
“I stand in complete solidarity with SEIU Local 1000,” Smallwood-Cuevas stated. “More than 100,000 state workers they represent are on strike today fighting for good-faith bargaining, fair treatment, and a contract that reflects the value of the essential public services they provide every day—all things that should be a given for the workers our state relies on the most.”
Smallwood-Cuevas, a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) added, “When California’s workers hold the line, the whole nation pays attention.”
According to union representatives, SEIU Local 1000 is seeking a contract that addresses rising living costs and provides greater workplace flexibility. The union is demanding a 20% wage increase over three years and an end to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s requirement that state employees work in person four days a week.
The union is also seeking increased state contributions toward employee health care benefits to reduce workers’ out-of-pocket costs.
On Sept. 18, Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 1729, authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San Jose), which sought to expand telework opportunities for state employees.
The bill would have required state agencies to offer telework options or provide written justifications for requiring employees to work in person. Supporters argued that telework could save taxpayers approximately $225 million annually by reducing office space and parking costs while lowering vehicle emissions and improving employee retention.
Newsom said the legislation would limit state departments’ flexibility to manage their workforces and evaluate telework exemptions individually. He has also emphasized the benefits of in-person collaboration.
“I want people to come back to work, reengage, rediscover, collaborate, coordinate, develop relationships, friendships, and fall in love,” Newsom said in July. “You get three-day weekends. Four years ago, that would’ve been a triumph. Now it’s a burden.”
Union organizers described the Oct. 21 walkout as a one-day unfair labor practice strike, rather than an indefinite work stoppage. The action was intended to demonstrate solidarity and increase pressure on the state during negotiations.
SEIU Local 1000 has been without a contract since its previous three-year agreement expired June 30. Negotiations are expected to resume.
Responding to the statewide walkout, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) said it “remains focused on achieving a fair and responsible agreement with SEIU Local 1000 and continues to be available at the bargaining table.”
Black Press
OPINION: We Can Restore Checks and Balances on Trump
With the presidential administration facing criticism over its handling of healthcare, inflation, and government spending, political observers are shifting their focus toward the upcoming congressional elections to restore institutional checks and balances. Recent data suggests Democrats are within reach of the 218 seats needed for a House majority, while specific Senate races in states like Texas and Michigan remain pivotal. The outcome of these contests will determine the legislative branch’s ability to challenge executive policies on tariffs, taxes, and military engagement. Click to read more.
Rapper Nikki Minaj is the latest high profile political tool of Donald Trump. The president recently remarked on the Afro-Trinidadian singer’s backside, praising her “beautiful ass.”
Is this what passes as an appeal for the Black vote? But Trump is an equal opportunity offender.
At recent rallies, Trump made homo-erotic comments about Republican men and their butts, like when he referred to Ohio Senator John Husted’s as a “pile of muscle.” But shouldn’t Trump be talking about the real issues?
Gas prices are now higher than they were under former President Joe Biden. Inflation is higher than when Trump took office, while he has redecorated the White House and already spent over $200 million on gold filigree. At least 3 million people have been kicked off of Medicaid or Obamacare because of Trump-backed legislation in Congress.
The country needs a change in how Trump does business. We need a strong independent Congress in both the House and Senate that will be our voice to stand up to ideas like a ‘forever war.’ Or tariffs against friend and foe.
This is the important math of the day: Democrats need 218 seats for a majority. Four more needed than their current 214. The latest Cook Report shows Democrats could gain 12-22 House seats.
But you still need the Senate, where Republicans have 53 members and the Dems have 47.
To have control, Dems would need to beat the tie breaker vote cast by VP J.D. Vance. Democrats need to get to 51 and that means four Senate victories on Nov. 3.
Of the key states politicos are watching, North Carolina and Georgia look blue. Can they get two more from toss-up states like Alaska (Mary Peltola?), Maine (Troy Jackson?), or Ohio (Sherrod Brown)? Observers are talking about two races in particular: Texas and Michigan.
In Texas the Talarico/Paxton race is fascinating. State legislator James Talarico is a choir boy compared to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton—whose rhetoric and record suggest he would be more amoral than Trump.
Then there’s Michigan, where Abdul El-Sayed is running against Mike Rogers.
The Black vote has wavered there, with some high-level Black pols coming out against El-Sayed on Fox News. Trump has also called El-Sayed a “jihadist and a terrorist.”
Born in the U.S., El-Sayed is a highly educated Rhodes Scholar, and a physician. The “model minority” is a terrorist? But like all people of color, he gets othered. Assumptions get made. His skin color and his religion make him a terrorist.
What about local issues like the billionaire tax in California. Prop. 40? I hate direct legislation by propositions because the proposals are usually flawed and can’t be worked out easily—like if legislators actually did their job in the state house.
But taxing billionaires more has to happen on the state and federal level. Prop 40 is a start. Even if it’s one time and goes mostly to health care. It’s a start toward fairness.
Whatever you say. Just vote. Now. Early. Don’t wait.
About the Author
Emil Amok Guillermo is a journalist, commentator and comic monologist. See him on his micro talk show: YouTube.com/@emilamok1
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