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Meet The Candidates Campaigning To Be The First Black Woman Governor In The U.S.

Meet The Candidates Campaigning To Be The First Black Woman Governor In The U.S.

They all have a fighting chance!

Here is a roundup of all the candidates campaigning to be the first Black woman governor in the United States. 

Last week, Twitter user @JuneSummer1 took to social media to post a very pertinent fact, writing, “In the history of the United States, there has never been a Black woman governor. That changes in 2022,” captioning a photo of each of the candidates. 

 

 

Since sharing is caring, we’re making sure you have a roundup of all the 2022 Black women gubernatorial candidates and a quick list of issues they care about. Check it out below!

Connie Johnson: Oklahoma Candidate for Governor

Photo Courtesy of Campaign for Connie Johnson

Constance “Connie” Johnson, is a former Oklahoma state Senator and Oklahoma City native. She holds a bachelor’s degree in French and two masters degrees, one in education and another in rehabilitation counseling. A veteran politician, Johnson spent more than 20 years working as a legislative analyst. She was first appointed to the Oklahoma legislature in 2005, getting re-elected in 2006 and again in 2010. This will be her second gubernatorial run, her first happening in 2018 when she was the only woman and the only Black person in the running. 

Her areas of focus are: 

         Health care expansion

         Public safety/Public health

         Infrastructure

         Abolishing the Death Penalty

         Expanding Access to Medicinal Cannabis 

You can learn more about Johnson’s campaign here.

Danielle Allen: Massachusetts Candidate for Governor

Photo Courtesy of Campaign for Danielle Allen

Allen holds degrees from Princeton, the University of Cambridge and Harvard. Hailing from a long line of activists, her great grandparents fought for women’s voting rights and her grandfather was a co-founder of one of the first NAACP chapters in northern Florida. Allen has continued that legacy work, making a name for herself in the nonprofit sector as a leader, policy innovator and educator. She is a Harvard professor and was also responsible for spearheading the COVID response team that sparked the Biden-Harris Pandemic Testing Board to help build out COVID testing resources. She is an author, freedom fighter and leader of a civic education initiative that supports teachers and students across fourteen Massachusetts school districts. 

Her areas of focus are: 

         Housing

         Transportation

         Schools

         Good Jobs

         Justice

You can learn more about Allen’s campaign here

Deidre DeJear: Iowa Candidate for Governor

Photo Courtesy of Campaign for Deidre DeJear

An Oklahoma native by way of Jackson, Mississippi, DeJear holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Drake University. She got her start as a social impact entrepreneur, founding Back to School Iowa, a nonprofit aimed at supporting youth in their educational pursuits. She went on to open her own business helping provide small businesses with affordable marketing tools.

Her areas of focus are:

         Economic Development

         Voting rights

         Education Equity

         Affordable, Accessible Healthcare

         Building a Competitive Technological Hub

         Environmental Justice

         Rural Development

You can learn more about DeJear’s campaign here

Letitia James: New York Candidate for Governor

Photo Courtesy of Campaign for Letitia James

James is a Brooklyn native, veteran politician and the current Attorney General for New York. She made history as the first Black woman to be elected to statewide office in New York and has built strong Democratic ties over the years. She has also garnered support from liberals for her suing of the National Rifle Association, investigation of former President Donald J. Trump and inquiry into the allegations against former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo. 

Her areas of focus are:

         Economic Development

         People-centered Health Care

         Education Equity

         Affordable Housing

        Social Equality & Progress for all New Yorkers

You can learn more about James’ campaign here

Mia McLeod: South Carolina Candidate for Governor

Photo Courtesy of Campaign for Mia McLeod

McLeod is a seventh-generation South Carolinian whose family has run a small business in her hometown of Bennettsville for over a century. She has served as CEO of her own company for nearly two decades, worked as a college educator and been one of the state’s top victim advocates, working with the Attorney Generals and Governors to tackle South Carolina’s domestic violence crisis. The first Black woman to hold a State Senate seat and the mother of two boys, McLeod is hoping to create a new South Carolina that better represents the issues of values of all its residents.

Her areas of focus are: 

         Equality for all

         Education Equity

         Equal Pay, Equal Work and Liveable Wages

         Creating a government for the people

         Transparency In Policing & Politics

         Creating Economic Pathways In Rural Counties

         Gender Equality In Healthcare Legislation

         Resident Retention

You can learn more about McLeod’s campaign here

Stacey Abrams: Georgia Candidate for Governor

Photo Courtesy of Campaign for Stacey Abrams

Abrams is a veteran politician who made history as the first woman and first Black person to serve as House Minority Leader in the Georgia General Assembly House of Representatives. She is a staunch voting rights advocate who, through her work with Fair Fight Action, has been pivotal in turning red states blue and galvanizing generations of Democratic voters. For her work, she was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. This will be her second gubernatorial run, potentially against her former opponent, GA Gov. Brian Kemp. 

Her areas of focus are:

         Economic equality

         Expanded Healthcare Access2

         Voting rights

         Opportunities for all

         A unified Georgia

You can learn more about Abrams’ campaign here

Congratulations to all of the gubernatorial candidates!

Photos Courtesy of Campaigns for Johnson, Allen, DeJear, James, McLeod & Abrams