The 2016 US Senate race in North Carolina is still making top ten lists despite Democrats not having a candidate. State Treasurer Janet Cowell effectively took her name out of consideration last week when she announced she was running for re-election. Kay Hagan says she will make up her mind in the next month. State Senator Jeff Jackson is making the rounds and is popular with younger Democrats. UNC President Tom Ross has remained mum and made no indication that he’s considering the race yet. Finally, Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue is apparently still considering a bid.
Given the national environment, Dan Blue should seriously consider stepping up. Across the country, African-Americans are losing trust and confidence in their government. Riots in inner cities may grab the headlines, but middle-class black families across the nation are scared for the safety of their children. They fought too long and hard to still be targeted purely because of the color of their skin.
Right now, we need African-American leaders who can bring perspective and gravitas to the situation. Dan Blue can do that. He’s not a media hound or an activist but he grew up in the Civil Rights era and knows that change is possible. He’s worked within the system and understands the levers of power. He’s got a calm, rational demeanor at a time when big egos and inflammatory language dominate the political landscape.
And Blue has a great story. He was raised poor in rural North Carolina and ended up graduating from Duke University School of Law. He went on to become the first African-American since Reconstruction to hold the Speaker’s gavel in a Southern state. After an unsuccessful run for US Senate, he returned to the legislature in the state Senate and is currently Minority Leader. He understands overcoming adversity and believes in second chances.
Blue would benefit from an African-American turnout that would rival the one Obama got in 2008. He’s no wild-eyed liberal. His politics are squarely in the mainstream of most of North Carolina, regardless of how Republicans will try to paint him. He could compete on issues as well as motivate the base.
On the downside, Blue has never been much of a fundraiser. Critics say he won’t put in the time to raise the money. However, as a viable African-American candidate in the most competitive state in the nation, the money would likely come. His candidacy would help Hillary Clinton and Roy Cooper, as well as other statewide candidates, opening fundraising opportunities that might not be available to other candidates. Besides, in a post-Citizens United world, money will flow to high-profile, competitive races one way or the other, particularly one with an African-American candidate.
Given the racial tensions in the country today, we need African-American leaders who can help identify the problems and find solutions without pointing fingers. We need calm, thoughtful leaders who can help us heal and move forward. Dan Blue is that type of leader. Maybe now is his time.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
I do not intend to vote on the basis of color and what I think who is what color and the effect of another. I prefer to decide based on my belief that the individual has the ability to handle the position and WILL fully represent the best interest of the people.
He or she does not need to have held a particular “impressive position.” We’ve seen where being the mayor of Charlotte bears no relationship to being governor. There are other such disappointments. Even voters, we’ve seen, do not view debates since they failed to recognize how incompetent some present themselves and how they show how unimportant the position is when they’ve no stance, telling the observer that whatever the opponent said in response to a question.
Lets do a better job on rational for candidates receiving our vote.