Democrat's Strategy to Undermine Progressives in Michigan's Black Community Raises Concerns
Michigan's special primary election is set to take place on Tuesday, and with it comes a test of the state Democratic Party's commitment to representing its most marginalized communities. The Democratic leadership has consistently demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice Black representation in higher office for political expediency.
The case in point is the exit of highly qualified progressive Black candidates from the gubernatorial race. Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie, both considered strong contenders, dropped out of the race before it truly began, leaving voters without a choice between them.
What's even more striking is that these candidates were not simply unable to compete with their opponents; they had already raised significant funds and secured numerous endorsements. The decision by party leadership to collaborate against these viable, progressive candidates raises questions about the ceiling on what Black progressives can hope to achieve in Michigan.
The pattern of behavior among Democrats in Michigan is alarming. We've witnessed them backing redistricting plans that leave Black voters with diminished representation, and their response to Republican efforts to increase Black representation has been lukewarm at best. In 2024, their "trifecta" strategy failed to deliver for working-class families, leading to a chaotic lame duck session.
Now, the Democratic Party finds itself facing an "independent" campaign from former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, bankrolled by corporate interests that have consistently harmed Michigan's working people. By clearing the gubernatorial field before voters could weigh in, party leaders have left Black voters and all voters without a clear choice.
The consequences of this strategy are far-reaching. The splintered vote threatens to undermine hard-won Democratic gains and erase the progress made by the very people who delivered those victories. It's time for Democrats to reevaluate their approach and prioritize building power with, not around, Black candidates and voters.
As one sitting Deputy Secretary of State aptly put it, "the cynical assumption that the people of Michigan are too racist to elect someone with a unique name to higher office." This is a case of party leadership making assumptions about their own base rather than listening to the voices of Black voters. It's time for Democrats to do better.
The Democratic Party must recognize that Black voters only matter on Election Day, not day-to-day. They need to prioritize building power with Black candidates and voters if they want to win in Michigan in 2026, 2028, and beyond. Anything less is a recipe for further fragmentation and loss of momentum.
As we head into the primary election, it's clear that Democrats must take responsibility for their actions and make amends for past mistakes. The time for party leaders to step up and support Black progressives has never been more urgent.
Michigan's special primary election is set to take place on Tuesday, and with it comes a test of the state Democratic Party's commitment to representing its most marginalized communities. The Democratic leadership has consistently demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice Black representation in higher office for political expediency.
The case in point is the exit of highly qualified progressive Black candidates from the gubernatorial race. Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie, both considered strong contenders, dropped out of the race before it truly began, leaving voters without a choice between them.
What's even more striking is that these candidates were not simply unable to compete with their opponents; they had already raised significant funds and secured numerous endorsements. The decision by party leadership to collaborate against these viable, progressive candidates raises questions about the ceiling on what Black progressives can hope to achieve in Michigan.
The pattern of behavior among Democrats in Michigan is alarming. We've witnessed them backing redistricting plans that leave Black voters with diminished representation, and their response to Republican efforts to increase Black representation has been lukewarm at best. In 2024, their "trifecta" strategy failed to deliver for working-class families, leading to a chaotic lame duck session.
Now, the Democratic Party finds itself facing an "independent" campaign from former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, bankrolled by corporate interests that have consistently harmed Michigan's working people. By clearing the gubernatorial field before voters could weigh in, party leaders have left Black voters and all voters without a clear choice.
The consequences of this strategy are far-reaching. The splintered vote threatens to undermine hard-won Democratic gains and erase the progress made by the very people who delivered those victories. It's time for Democrats to reevaluate their approach and prioritize building power with, not around, Black candidates and voters.
As one sitting Deputy Secretary of State aptly put it, "the cynical assumption that the people of Michigan are too racist to elect someone with a unique name to higher office." This is a case of party leadership making assumptions about their own base rather than listening to the voices of Black voters. It's time for Democrats to do better.
The Democratic Party must recognize that Black voters only matter on Election Day, not day-to-day. They need to prioritize building power with Black candidates and voters if they want to win in Michigan in 2026, 2028, and beyond. Anything less is a recipe for further fragmentation and loss of momentum.
As we head into the primary election, it's clear that Democrats must take responsibility for their actions and make amends for past mistakes. The time for party leaders to step up and support Black progressives has never been more urgent.
, this is just another example of how the Democratic Party only looks out for themselves 
. They're so worried about winning that they'll sacrifice anyone who gets in their way 
. I mean, come on, who needs two strong Black candidates to run against each other when you can have a bunch of corporate-backed candidates and call it a day? 
And don't even get me started on the whole "we're trying to build power with Black voters" thing 
... like that's ever going to happen. They'll just keep using us for votes and then discarding us when we're no longer useful 
. It's all about winning, not about actually helping people 
.
So what's going on here? 
. But what's even more concerning is that this strategy is all about corporate interests 
: in 2024, 63% of Black voters in MI voted for Democrats 
, but those same Democrats failed to deliver for working-class families 
.
. In 2018, only 55% of eligible Black voters cast ballots in a gubernatorial election 
. They need to prioritize building power with Black candidates and voters if they want to win in MI & beyond 
. The data is clear: progressive Black candidates are the future of the party 
.
!
they're basically alienating the very people who helped them win elections by pushing out progressive black candidates 
i mean, lt gov garlin gilchrist ii and deputy sec agogho edevbie were both super qualified and had a good shot at winning but now voters are stuck with no choice 
party leaders need to listen to black voters and build power WITH them, not around them 
i mean they're so good but like 6 bucks a pop is just crazy lol anyway back to michigan's gov race i'm kinda worried about the democratic party's strategy here too it seems like they're prioritizing corporate interests over actual voter needs which is super sketchy 
It's time to put the people first instead of playing it safe and risking further erosion of trust.
! Like, what even is going on here? These progressive Black candidates just gave up because the party didn't want them to compete 
. They're just not listening to Black voters or doing anything to help them get more representation. It's all about the corporate interests and who's going to benefit from their policies 
.
!
like, come on dems... we know you have the power to make change 
one that's not all about politics and expediency but about doing what's right for everyone.
, like Lt Gov Garlin Gilchrist II and Deputy Sec of State Aghogho Edevbie 
, but their actions are saying otherwise 
They just need to listen to us and build power WITH us, not around us 
. If they don't, it'll be hard to win in 2026 and beyond 
. Let's hope they learn from their mistakes and prioritize Black candidates and voters 
this is a total joke what kinda politics is this?! they just wanna win at all costs without even trying to help those people 
- pushing out qualified progressive Blacks from the gubernatorial race, just so they can have a clear choice that serves their own interests. It's like they're trying to take credit for being all about equality and social justice while actually undermining it. This move will only serve to split the Black vote and make it harder for Dems to win in 2026 
anyone who thinks the dems are playing with fire by underestimating black voters hasn't been paying attention. newsflash: progressive blacks aren't stupid, we know how politics work and we can smell a bait-and-switch from a mile away 