Black Candidates for Office

2018 Midterm Elections: Black Candidates Running for Office

The purpose of this list is to provide a listing of Black candidates running for office. Please note: this listing is a public resource and is not an endorsement by the U.S. Black Chambers Inc.

Robert Kennedy Jr. (D-AL-1)

S. Naval Academy graduate and former Naval Officer
Spent 9 years on active-duty

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Terri Sewell (D-AL-7) (incumbent)

First Black woman to ever serve in Alabama’s Congress
Serves on Ways and Means Committee and member of the Congressional Black Caucus
Selected to serve as Chief Deputy Whip this term

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Stacey Abrams (D-GA) (governor’s Race)

served as minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017
the first black female major party gubernatorial nominee in the United States.
endorsed by Barack Obama

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Barbara Lee (D-CA-13)

Serves on House Budget and House Appropriations Committees
Former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
Strong advocate for action to end Poverty and creating disease-free communities

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Karen Bass (D-CA-37) (incumbent)

Serves on the House Committee of Foreign Affairs
Chosen by Nancy Pelosi to serve on Steering and Policy Committee)
Strong advocate of strengthening

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Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) (incumbent)

Over 37 year in public service
Co-Founded Black Women’s Forum, a non-profit organization
Ranking member of Financial Services Committee

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Casper Stock ham (R-CO-1)

Served in the Air Force NCO of 14 years
Former Financial Services Specialist and Business Analyst

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Joe Neguse (D-CO-2)

Appointed to lead Colorado’s Consumer Protection Agency at 31 years old (one of the youngest members serving in a state-cabinet nationwide)
Recovered millions of dollars during his tenure at the Consumer Protection Agency

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Stephany Rose Spaulding (D-CO-5)

Experienced keynote speaker both nationally and internationally
Delivered a collection of talks at the University of Paris, Sorbonne, called, “Trekking Space: Black Studies and the Places We Will Go.”
Founded “Our Children’s Children Enterprises, which focuses on community development and consulting for future generations of American children

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Michelle Louise Bicking (G-CT-2)

Over 20 years of service in Social Work
Executive Director/Founder of Hidden Acres Farm
Currently developing a series of regenerative agricultural products for use across Connecticut

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Jahana Hayes (D-CT-5)

Currently the Talent and Professional Development Supervisor for Waterbury Public Schools
Recipient of 2016 National Teacher of the Year Award

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Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)

Served as Delaware’s first woman and person of color to serve congress
Served in the cabinets of two DE governors
First African-American Woman to serve as Secretary of Labor and Deputy Secretary of Health and Social Services

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Yvonne Hayes Hinson (D-FL-3)

Became an entrepreneur after retirement and founded Childstart Learning Solutions, LLC
Served as principal for 15 years in Miami-Dade Public Schools
Elected Gainesville City Commission and served as Membership Chair of Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee and board member of the Alachua County Branch N.A.A.C.

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Alfred Lawson (D-FL-5)

Served the citizens of Florida for 28 years in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate
Serves as a member on the Agriculture and Small Business Committees
Member of the Congressional Black Caucus

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Virginia Fuller (R-FL-5)

Operated and Founded two pediatric care facilities: A 24 hour Emergency Shelter home for Children and an Extended Nursing Care Center
Falling victim to discrimination and boycotts, she closed her business and became a political activist
Registered Nurse, worked in child care for multiple years

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Val Demings (D-FL-10) (incumbent)

Appointed to be the first Female Chief of Police of Orlando
Serves on House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees
Created the “Operation Positive Direction” a mentoring program that helps at-risk students

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Allen Ellison (D-FL-24)

Founded the Center for Economic & Policy Development
Created and served as Treasurer of the Community Economic Council
First African American president of his Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity

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Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL-24) (incumbent)

Serves on the Education & Workforce Committee and the Transportation & Infrastructure
Founder and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus’s “My Brother’s Keeper” Task Force
The founder of the Florida Ports Caucus

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Mayra Joli (FL-27)

Elected by her peers from around the globe as Mrs. World Congeniality 2016 in Dongguan, China.
Created “Fashion Night on Brickell” which raises money for organizations that provide legal services to those who cannot afford them
Founded the Joli Firm PLLC

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Sanford Bishop Jr. (D-GA-2) (incumbent)

Serves on the House Committee on Appropriations
Served as Senior Democratic Whip in the 112th and 113th Congresses

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Herman West Jr.(R-GA-2)

Served on Atlanta’s Police Department for 18 Years
Owns his company R&W flooring after his time in law enforcement
Served in Vietnam

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Hank Johnson (D-GA-4) (I)

Member of the House Judiciary and Transportation & Infrastructure Committees
Practiced Criminal Defense Law for 27 years and served 12 years as a magistrate judge before entering congress
Strong proponent of Police Demilitarization and accountability

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Joe Profit (R-GA-4)

Served in the Reagan and H.W Bush Administrations
Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1971 NFL Draft
Turned his business into an international, 120m/yr. success

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John Lewis (D-GA-5)

Highly involved with the Civil Rights Movement- crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama with other civil rights activists
Recipient of the Medal of Freedom (highest civilian honor) from President Obama
Member of the Ways and Means committee and Congressional Black Caucus

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Lucy McBath (D-GA-6)

Strong advocate for gun safety and gun violence prevention
Created the “Champion in The Making Legacy Foundation” which provides assistance to high school graduates attending traditional/technical colleges
Recipient of the Chairman’s Award of the Georgia Democratic Party in 2017

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Tabitha Johnson-Green (D-GA-10)

Registered Nurse for Over 20 Years, served as Director of Nursing Services
Strong opponent of For-Profit Prisons and detention centers for Immigrants
Supports the Equality Act, which makes discrimination of gender identity and sexual orientation illegal

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Flynn Broady Jr (D-GA-11)

Became the Veterans Treatment Court Coordinator for Cobb County in 2014
Supports a clear citizenship path for all law-abiding immigrants
Served in three overseas tours with the US Army

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Francys Johnson (D-GA-12) (Incumbent)

Practices criminal and civil law in Georgia
Senior Minister at the Mount Moriah Baptist Church Magnolia Baptist Church
Taught Criminal justice and Political Science at Georgia Southern and Savannah State University

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David Scott (D-GA-13) (Incumbent)

Serves on the Agriculture and the Financial Services Committee
Strong advocate for Veteran Affairs
Has written laws that include student-loan repayment assistance for public attorneys

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Bobby Rush (D-IL-1) (Incumbent)

Has brought over 1 billion dollars to the 1st district of Chicago in his tenure
Serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee
Pastor of the Beloved Community Christian Church of God in Chicago

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Jimmy Lee Tillman II (R-IL-1)

Former nominee of the Republican Party in the 2014 election for the 1st District
Advocate for stronger state control over school funding, as well as what they teach
Proponent of Police demilitarization

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Danny K. Davis (D-IL-7) (Incumbent)

Serves on the House Ways and Means Committee
Served on the Chicago City Council as Alderman of the 29th Ward for 11 years
Former Educator and Health Administrator

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Craig Cameron (R-IL-7)

Supports tax incentives/government subsidies for hiring workers
Supporter of gun rights, but does not support bump stocks or automatic weapons being used

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Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14)

Appointed by President Obama to serve as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and helped implement the ACA
Currently registered nurse
Striving to modernize the infrastructure of her district

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Dee Thornton (D- IN-5)

Worked at Xerox for over 30 years, retired early as both an executive and consultant
Opposed to any repeal or removal of the ACA
Supports raising the minimum wage and investing in new technologies

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Jeannine Lee Lake (D- IN-6)

Supports raising federal minimum wage
Strong supporter of planned parenthood
Proponent of the ACA

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Cedric Richmond (D-LA-2) (Incumbent)

Serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Judiciary
Previously served on Louisiana’s State Legislature
Member of the Congressional Black Caucus

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Larry Rader (D-LA-3)

Formerly served in the United States Air Force
Supporter of “greener” solutions in the South
Proponent of investing more in mental health care for veterans

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Tony Campbell (R-MD-1)

Veteran of the United States Navy
Professor of Political Theory and Metropolitan Studies at Towson University
Served on the Executive Committee of the Maryland Republican Party

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Jenica Martin (L-MD-1)

Volunteers for National CASA Association as a Court Appointed Special Advocate on behalf of abused children in foster care
Resident Counselor with the Catholic Charities Department for Persons with Disabilities
Supports expansion of legal immigration opportunities

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Liz Matory (R-MD-2)

Author of “Born Again Republican”
Ardent opponent of Gerrymandering
Member of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women

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Elijah Cummings (D-MD-7)

Seeks to reduce government waste, abuse, and fraud
Senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Serves on the U.S Naval Academy Board of Visitors

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Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7)

If elected, she will be the first black woman voted into Congress in Massachusetts
First woman of color elected to the Boston City Council
Worked as a Senior aide to Senator John Kerry

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John James (R-MI)

Serves as President of James Group international
Earned two medals and a Combat Action Badge in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Supports improving cyber defenses and further military improvements

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Brenda Lawrence (D-MI-14)

Serves on the House Oversight and Government Reform and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Previously elected Mayor of Southfield in 2001 and was the first African American to hold the position
Serves as Senior Whip in the U.S. House

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Ilhan Omar (D-MN-5)

Community educator at the University of Minnesota
Worked as a Policy Aide for the Minneapolis City Council
Became the first Muslim Legislator in the United States’

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Jeramey Anderson (D-MS-4)

At 21, he was the youngest member ever elected to a legislature in the history of the United States
Founded the non-profit organization “Foundation for a Brighter America) at 16 years old
Supports minimum wage increases and more public education funding

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Bennie Thompson (D-MS-2) (incumbent)

Longest serving African American legislator in Mississippi
Only member of the democratic party within Mississippi’s Congressional Delegation
First Democratic chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee

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Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO-5) (incumbent)

Serves on the House Committee on Financial Services
Previously served for 20 years on the Kansas City City Council
Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus

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Henry Martin (D-MO-6)

Served in the Army in the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm
Proponent of 2^ndamendment and additional measures for background checks and control
Worked as an educator for 19 years in his district

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Robert Strawder (L-NV-1)

Former Hip-Hop artist “Tha Vegas Don”
Participates in direct philanthropic work for his community

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Eddie Edwards (R-NH-1)

Former Chief of Police of South Hampton
Strong proponent of reducing substance abuse and misuse
Previously worked a Director of Enforcement and Licensing for the State Liquor Commission

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Donald Payne (D-NJ-10) (incumbent)

Currently serves on the Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
Strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act
Founded the Newark South Ward Junior Democrats

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Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12)(incumbent)

Currently serves on Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Co-Chair of the Girl Scouts of America Capitol Hill Honorary Troop
Opponent of for-profit prisons and supports the End For-Profit Prisons Act

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Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY-5) (incumbent)

Senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Ardent supporter for the ACA
Co-Chairs the NDCC Trade Task Force

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Hakeem Jefferies (D-NY-8) (incumbent)

Member of the House Budget and Judiciary Committees
Serves as a Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy & Communications Committee
Founder of the Criminal Justice & Public Safety Caucus

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Lutchi Gayot (R-NY-9)

Seeking Infrastructure spending for housing in his district
Supports raising minimum wage
Supports new pathways to citizenship

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Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY-9)

Represented the 40^thDistrict in Brooklyn in the NYC City Council
Serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Committee on Small Business, and Ethics Committee
Co-Chair of the Black Women & Girls Caucus

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Jineea Butler(R-NY-13)

Worked as Director of Workforce Development in New York City
Started her own company “Social Services of Hip-Hop”
Supports criminal justice reform and has worked extensively with the homeless people advocacy/services

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Antonio Delgado (D-NY-19)

Endorsed by Barack Obama
Supports sensible measures for environment protections and regulations
Supports reforms in Criminal Justice System

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Linda Coleman (D - NC-2)

Served as a Human Resources Director for the Department of Agriculture and Administration
Appointed to State’s workforce as Director of the Office of State Personnel
Served in the North Carolina General Assembly for three terms

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DD Adams (D-NC-5)

Served as a council member of Winston-Salem’s North Ward since 2009
Forty years of experience in manufacturing and management
Supports banning for-profit prisons and Marijuana Legalization

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Alma Adams (D-NC-12) (incumbent)

Serves on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Small Business Committee, and Agriculture Committee
Served in the North Carolina General Assembly and on the Greensboro City Council
Became Chair of North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus

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Joyce Beatty (D-OH-3) (incumbent)

Serves on the House Committee on Financial Services
Former Senior Vice President of Outreach and Engagement for Ohio State University
Member of the Congressional Black Caucus and Office of Minority and Women Inclusion

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Marcia Fudge (D-OH-11) (incumbent)

Serves on the Committees on Agriculture and Education & The Workforce
First female and African American mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio
Former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus

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James Clyburn (D-SC-6) (incumbent)

Member of the Congressional Black Caucus and Democratic Steering Committee
Serves as the Assistant Democratic Leader and third-ranking Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives
Ran state agencies under four governors of South Carolina

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Brandon Brown (D-SC-4)

Endorsed by Former President joe Biden
Served as Executive Director of the Allen Temple Community Development Center
Co-founded the Upstate Black Family Reunion

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Charlotte Bergmann (R-TN-9)

Retired in 2000 from FedEx as a Technology Project Manager
Rewarded 2018 Statesmen of the Year
Supports pro-growth tax reforms

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Shirley J. McKellar (D-TX-1)

Deployed to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom as a nurse in the U.S. Army
Managed the African American Breast Cancer Outreach Program (AABCO) at the University of Texas College of Nursing, Austin Texas
Received five medals for her service in the military

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Adrianne Bell (D-TX-14)

Previously involved with the Obama Campaign
Currently a public school teacher
Proponent of early childhood education

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Tim Westley (R-TX-15)

Served in the U.S Army and Texas National Guard
Ordained and Licensed Pastor of Shepherd's Vineyard Christian Church
Strong advocate of protecting veteran’s disability benefits

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Vince Duncan

Vice president of the Groveland Terrace civic club
Owner of company “The Pulpit People,” who specialize in Church furniture
Wants to end all fines included in the ACA

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Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18) (incumbent)

Serves on Committees on Homeland Security, Judiciary, and the Budget
Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus
Chair of the CBC Foundation Board

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Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30) (Incumbent)

First African American and first female to serve as a ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
First nurse elected to US congress
Serves as Senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

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Willie Billups (R-TX-33)

Served in the United States Army
Supports reforms for the Criminal Justice System
Proponent of 2^ndamendment rights

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Mia B. Love (R-UT-4)

Serves on House Financial Services Committee
Accepted the Chamber of Commerce “Spirit of Enterprise Award” Twice
Served on the Select Investigative Committee on Infant Lives in 2016

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Vangie Williams (D-VA-1)

Helped implement and create the TSA Program following the 9/11 attacks
If elected, she will be the first African American woman to serve in Congress for Virginia
Supports modernizing and strengthening the nation’s infrastructure

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Donald McEachin (D-VA-4) (incumbent)

Served as Co-president of the House’s Freshman Class of Congressman
Serves on House Armed Services Committee and House Committee on Natural Resources
Former legislator in Virginia’s General Assembly for last twenty years

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Jeff A. Dove Jr. (R-VA-11)

Served in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Formerly employed by Naval Research Lab Federal Credit Union, Capital One, and the National Association of City and County Health Officials

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Gwen Moore (D-WI-4) (incumbent)

The most reliable Democratic votes, meaning she can be considered a safe vote for the Democratic Party in Congress.
Serves on Committee on Financial Services
Former Co-Chair of the Congressional Women’s Caucus from 2011-2013

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Tim Rogers (R-WI-4)

Former Delivery Driver
Ran Against Michael McGee Jr. in a prior race
Supporter of President Trump

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Andrew Gillum (D-FL)

Serving as mayor of Tallahassee since 2014
Running against Republican U.S. Representative Ron DeSantis
Classified as a progressive, and is considered to be a politician in the mold of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, the highest-ranking elected official to support his primary candidacy.

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Ben Jealous (D-MD)

former president and chief executive officer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People(NAACP)
Director of the US Human Rights Program at Amnesty International