2021 Election Day

Election Day in the United States is November 2nd and it is when general elections for federal public officials are held. This year’s election day was a victory for minorities everywhere and a key step for promoting diversity and inclusivity in our government.

Boston, New York, and Pittsburgh were among the places where voters embraced minority candidates.

Michelle Wu was elected as Boston’s mayor, defeating fellow Democratic City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George. City councilor Annissa Essaibi George conceded the race with a large share of the vote yet to be counted. Her words were “I want to offer a great big congratulations to Michelle Wu. She’s the first woman and first Asian American elected to be mayor of Boston.” Given Boston’s history, this election is an astounding victory. It’s not often that there is an uncontested mayoral race with no incumbent seeking reelection. It is also remarkable to note that in this year’s unaffiliated primary, every serious contender was a person of color, and most were women. Wu ran on a progressive platform, championing a Green New Deal for Boston and a fare-free transit system.

Eric Adams became the second Black man to lead New York City in a landslide election. Adams is currently the Brooklyn borough president and a former state senator. He will take the place of Bill de Blasio, who faced numerous difficulties in his second term such as rising house prices, income inequality, and historic job losses. Adams ran on a campaign to improve public safety, fight gun violence, and boost the efficiency of the city’s police force. One of his most notable plans is to cut the NYPD’s budget and shift some police jobs to civilians, which is predicted to save the city up to $500 million a year. He will have significant political leverage going into his position since he has assembled a broad coalition of supporters such as labor unions, wealthy donors, and powerful politicians like Michael Bloomberg and Mayor Bill de Blasio. It only took 10 minutes after the polls had closed for the Associated Press to call Adams’s victory, signifying the Democrat’s power in New York.

Ed Gainey became Pittsburgh’s new mayor. Although his victory came as little surprise since no Republican has held the office in 90 years, it is still a historic win. Gainey is the first Black mayor the city has ever had. Gainey started his life in the low-income Liberty Park housing complex but was able to gradually rise in local politics to eventually become Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor. A fatal event in 2016 where his sister was shot, has caused Gainey to be a strong advocate for police reform. He advocates for what he calls “CommUnity” which is a less confrontational approach to policing tied in with an emphasis on housing affordability. Things are looking good for Gainey to achieve his goals. He is set to inherit a stable position since Pittsburgh had been running surpluses prior to Covid-19. Plus, the city has $300 million in federal Covid-19 aid to spend. Jack Wheatley, a colleague of Gainey’s in the state house, has said that “When you have reports saying things like this is the worst city in America for Black women - never having a Black leader in the mayor’s office also sent a message that wasn’t welcoming.” That barrier has officially been broken.

Numerous other places across the U.S. saw historic wins. Cincinnati had the election of its first Asian American mayor Aftab Pureval. The Tibetan-Indian son of immigrants defeated 82-year-old opponent David Mann who has been a longtime pillar of Cincinnati City Hall. Winsome Sears became the first Black woman to be Virginia’s lieutenant governor. Lieutenant governor is now the highest office a woman of color has won in Virginia’s history.

The rise in candidates of color in local, state, and federal elections is a cause for celebration. Our governments are starting to become more accurate representations of this country’s population. As we continue to go forward, we must vote for candidates that represent change and growth.

References

Dezenski, L, & Janfaza, R. (2021). Michelle Wu will make history after Annissa Essaibi George concedes in Boston mayoral race, CNN projects. CNN politics. https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/02/politics/michelle-wu-boston-mayor-race/index.html

Glueck, K. (2021). Eric Adams is elected mayor of New York City. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/02/nyregion/eric-adams-mayor.html

Reynolds, J., Minchillo, J., & Franklin II, F. (2021). In elections across the country, candidates of color made history Tuesday night. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2021/11/03/1051811110/election-night-2021-results-michelle-wu-eric-adams-ed-gainey-mayor

Romo, V. (2021). Eric Adams is elected as New York City’s second Black mayor. NPR.

https://www.npr.org/2021/11/02/1051678758/new-york-elects-eric-adams-as-its-second-black-mayor

Worthy, A. , & Potter, C. (2021). 'You proved that we can have a city for all': Ed Gainey becomes Pittsburgh's first Black mayor. 90.5 WESA. https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2021-11-02/you-proved-that-we-can-have-a-city-for-all-gainey-becomes-pittsburghs-first-black-mayor