‘The South rose up’: Black lawmakers urge Democrats to invest in region before 2028

POLITICO · Calen Razor · 2026-11-06 09:45 UTC

Black Democratic lawmakers argue the party needs to sink resources into traditionally red Southern states now as candidates gear up for 2028.

Black voter turnout fueled wins across the South in Tuesday’s midterms. Now Black lawmakers are warning national Democrats they can’t take the victories for granted.

Following a string of stunning wins and incredibly close contests in bright red states powered by a surge in Black voters, Black Democrats are calling for their party to invest in the South now for future cycles.

Many of them aren’t waiting until the dust settles to actively seek commitments from party leaders and donors, who they have previously chided for not investing earlier in promising candidates, like Scott Colom in Mississippi’s Senate contest, who is within striking distance of beating incumbent GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Read the full story at POLITICO · All coverage of this story