midterm elections
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Report Finds North Carolina Threw Out Black Voters’ Mail-In Ballots at Twice the Rate of White Voters in 2018
Voter suppression isn’t a new phenomenon. But as the country lurches toward a November election in which President Donald Trump has flatly refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power should he lose, concerns over the integrity of the voting process are as high as they’ve ever been. Adding to those concerns is a…
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Black Hair Matters: The Affirmative Power of Politicians Like Ayanna Pressley and Stacey Abrams
When Ayanna Pressley got her Senegalese twists done for the first time about three years ago, it was a moment of affirmation and recognition. “I just really loved it,” she told The Glow Up. “I felt my most authentic and powerful self.” Speaking over the phone this past September, Pressley explained that when she was…
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Live Blog: Mississippi's Senate Runoff Election
JACKSON, Miss—Mike Espy is hoping to pull off perhaps one of the biggest upset of the 2018 elections against Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith tonight. Espy, a former congressman and agriculture secretary, wasn’t expected to earn enough votes during the midterm elections, let alone make it to a runoff. Support for both candidates have gone down racial…
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Group Made Its Way Through Mississippi Before Senate Runoff to Get Black People to Register to Vote—and to Understand Their Political Power
TUNICA, Miss.—Devin Gordon was standing outside his second-floor apartment when LaTosha Brown asked to have a chat. “How you doing young man?” Brown asked. “Can we talk to you for a second?” She was out canvassing the neighborhood with Tunica Teens In Action, a local organization that helps young people become politically engaged, when one…
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‘The Pink Wave’: The Dems Took Back the House—Thanks to a Record Number of Women Candidates
There might’ve been a blue surge during the 2018 midterm elections, but the “wave” Democrats were predicting turned out to be, in the words of some, decidedly pink. A record-breaking number of women ran for elected office this term and made history when at least 100 of them (at last count) won the congressional seats…
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Andrew Gillum Takes the High Road, Like We Always Do
Andrew Gillum may not be Florida’s first black governor, but he still had an encouraging message of perseverance and endurance for his supporters during his concession speech to Republican opponent Ron DeSantis. Imagine what would happen if, just once, a black person didn’t have to conduct himself with grace and humility in the face of…
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The Root's Live Election Blog, Results Center and Countdown To America Becoming Great Again
Tonight, America is finally united with a collective case of bubbleguts as we wait to see if the country will reject free health care, tax breaks for the wealthy and the politics of fear and have some common sense for the first time. The Root will be covering all sides of this historic election. Political…
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Petty Reasons to Vote, Ranked
10. To direct passive-aggressive subs at significant others. “Maybe SOMEONE would have got up and voted this morning if they weren’t up all night eating FLAMING HOT Cheetos and watching PORN.” 9. To flirt with elderly women at polling stations, pretending that you want phone numbers and panties when you really just want spaghetti recipes…
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‘It Freaking Matters Today’: Influential Black Women Stress the Importance of the Midterms
Fun fact: Despite voting early, I’ve been proudly holding onto my unworn “I Voted, Did You?” wristband for two weeks now, just waiting to wear it on Tuesday, Nov. 6, in solidarity with my fellow voters. This midterm election is a deeply significant and historic one. We’re no longer speculating on “the lesser of two…
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#ElectionEve: My Personal Plea For You To Get Out and Vote Tuesday
On the eve of the 2018 midterm election, I wanted to take a moment to urge everyone to get out and take advantage of their right to vote. I am not going to shame you for not voting. I am not going to threaten you or tell you that you are stupid if you don’t.…