Tag: VOTING

Mississippi could be on the verge of electing its first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction, but nearly a week after Election Day, the result is still hanging in the balance. Democrat Scott Colom holds a razor-thin lead over Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith in a race carrying particular weight in a state with a long history of racial segregation and voter suppression.

The 2026 midterm elections produced a sweeping political shake-up, with Democrats emerging in control of both chambers of Congress. Keisha Lance Bottoms, Cyril Jefferson and James Talarico were among those making headlines as historic races turned into victories. Black candidates secured landmark victories across the country alongside the national party shift.

It took 250 years for an American state to elect a Black woman as governor. On Tuesday, Georgia changed that. Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman ever elected to lead a state. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, voters elected Stacey Plaskett governor. Two Black women. Two historic wins. One clear message: Black women are not waiting on history. We are writing it.

Voters are the engine that drives progress and holds this nation accountable. But that undeniable power requires more than just showing up at your polling place; you must be prepared before you step inside the voting booth. Between shifting voter ID requirements, updated polling locations, and confusing precinct boundaries, making your voice heard requires strategy. Before heading to the polls, ensure you're registered, know your polling location and hours, confirm your state's required ID, and double-check your ballot.

With Michigan Democrats dealing with a stunning political fallout and Alaska's Senate race caught up in a bizarre name-related controversy, the final stretch before the Nov. 3 midterms is delivering plenty of drama. But American politics has a long history of last-minute scandals, racial manipulation, secret deals and campaign tactics that leave consequences far beyond Election Day. And Black Americans have often paid a particularly high price.

From classrooms to voting booths to hospital delivery rooms, Black Texans are urging politicians to address issues shaping their communities, including educator pay, school funding, voting access, affordability and maternal health. Their message is clear: political participation means more than casting a ballot. Candidates must listen, demonstrate accountability and deliver on their promises.