Black lawmakers consider bids for Congress as independents
By The Associated Press | The Natchez Democrat
BATON ROUGE (AP) — Three black state lawmakers say they are weighing whether to run for three U.S. House seats this fall as independents, a move that could splinter Democratic support in the races.
Sen. Don Cravins Jr., Sen. Lydia Jackson and Rep. Michael Jackson say the state and national Democratic parties have failed to recruit and support black candidates to run for federal and statewide offices. They said there’s disparity between how the party treats black and white candidates.
“For many, many years, the African-American community has been very supportive of Democrats, and many of us feel that has not been reciprocated,” said Cravins, D-Opelousas.
Louisiana has only one black member of Congress: U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat who represents a majority black district.
All seven of Louisiana’s U.S. House seats come up for election in November.
Cravins said he is considering a run as an independent for the 7th U.S. Congressional District that is held by U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., R-Lafayette.
Though he said the Democratic Party supports him as a state senator in a majority black district, Cravins said he worries that financial and organizational help would evaporate once he ventures into a congressional district that is majority white.
“When an African-American candidate runs in a majority white district, race is always an issue,” said Cravins.
Cravins’ father — Opelousas Mayor Don Cravins Sr. — ran for Congress in 2004 and lost, and at the time, Cravins Sr. criticized members of the Democratic Party for not providing enough support for his candidacy. (more…)
This is a good move if they do it.