The Nov. 7 election night across several states was brimming with wins for Black candidates in multiple races, even if they all side with different politics.
Gabriel Amo won the special election for Rhode Island’s 1st District, making him the first Black person to represent the state in Congress. Amo, a Democrat, strives to fight gun violence and protect Social Security and Medicare.
Cherelle Parker, a former Pennsylvania state legislator and Philadelphia councilman became the first Black woman to be elected mayor of Philadelphia. While she sides with the Democratic party, she seeks to implement more tough-on-crime policies, including reviving “constitutional” stop-and-frisk tactics and hiring hundreds more police officers. Her policy agenda strongly resembles that of New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Then there’s Yusef Salaam, an exonerated “Central Park Five” member who just won a seat on the New York City Council, representing Harlem in Manhattan. He advocates for prison abolition, environmental and economic justice, and empowerment of marginalized groups.
The one person whose name you might not have seen make many national headlines is Michael Feggans.
Feggans, an Air Force veteran, is one of Virginia’s newest state delegates, representing a district in Virginia Beach. He’s not the first Black state delegate, nor does he hold some distinct, national renown.
However, Feggans’ win cinched the Democratic majority in Virginia’s House of Delegates, which was formerly majority-Republican. Not only did Democrats take over the House, but they also maintained their majority in the state Senate. Their takeover in the state’s General Assembly spells doom for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s political agenda, part of which included plans to pass a 15-week limit on abortions.
It’s not that Feggans’ particular win is a unique sign foreshadowing some sort of poor political omen for all Republicans, but his party’s…
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