Tuesday, March 2, 2021 two Black women won their elections in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod was re-elected to serve District 9 on the Chattanooga City Council and Councilwoman-elect Raquetta Dotley was elected to serve District 7 on the Chattanooga City Council.
That same Election Day, Tishaura Jones, who is running to be the Mayor of the City of St. Louis, advanced to the General Election. If elected, Tishaura will be the first Black woman elected to serve as Mayor.
Councilwoman Coonrod and Councilwoman-elect Dotley were endorsed by Elect Black Women PAC. Tishaura Jones was one of EBWPac’s Races to Watch.
All three of these Black women are trailblazers, making significant impacts in their respective communities. This is why Elect Black Women PAC was founded. EBWPac is committed to supporting Black women candidates to increase representation and elevate Black women’s voices.
This year alone, Elect Black Women PAC is committed to endorsing 50 Black women candidates.
Why do endorsements matter?
Black women candidates face barriers that their white female counterparts do not. Female candidates do face media bias and sexism while running for office. For Black women, these issues are compounded by systemic racism.
Fundraising for Black women candidates is another struggle due to the false dichotomy and racism in the electability litmus test. During the first three quarters of 2020, 113 Black women candidates raised a combined $81 million as reported by The Lilly. Comparing those fundraising totals, there’s a $730 million difference. Three hundred seventy-nine white women candidates raised a total of $811.
This also highlights the disparity in candidate recruitment for Black women who made up only 23 percent of the total women running for office in 2020.
It’s also important to highlight that $81 million raised by Black women candidates is a record.
Elect Black Women PAC is committed to endorsing Black women candidates, helping them with fundraising, connecting volunteers with their campaigns, and shining spotlights on their campaigns. It is our responsibility to lift up and support our own. It is our responsibility to elect Black women.
How can you help?
Black women candidates from across the country are running for office and they need your help to get those election night wins.
· Kerri-Ann Nesbeth, one of EBWPac’s endorsed candidates, is running for the Miramar City Council, District 1 in Florida. Her election day is Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Help Kerri-Ann by making calls with her campaign to turn out the vote. Volunteer (This campaign is past Florida’s campaign donation cutoff deadline.)
· Ceretta Smith, one of EBWPac’s endorsed candidates, is running for the Grovetown City Council in Georgia. Her election day is Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Help Ceretta by donating to her campaign. Donate
· Tishaura Jones, one of EBWPac’s Races to Watch, is running Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District. Her election day is Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Help Tishaura by donating to her campaign. Donate
· Karen Carter Peterson, one of EBWPac’s Races to Watch, is running to be the first Black woman to serve as Mayor for the City of St. Louis. Her election day is Tuesday, March 20, 2021. Help Karen by donating to her campaign. Donate
With your help, we will elect Black women in 2021 and in the 2022 midterms. We will change the face of our government. Elect Black Women