A Statewide Preview: Black Candidates on Your Nov. 5 Gen Election Ballot 

Joe W. Bowers Jr. |& California Black Media& (CBM) – As the Nov. 5, 2024 General Election approaches, a number of Black candidates are running for positions in the United States Congress, the State Senate, and the State Assembly. If elected, they would collectively represent a larger proportion of elected officials at the state level than California’s Black population of about 6.5%.Of the state’s 52 U.S. House of Representatives seats, three are currently held by Black representatives. In the State Senate, which comprises 40 seats and elects half of its members every two years, there are currently two Black Senators. In the Assembly, which has 80 seats up for election every two years, 10 Black Assembly members currently serve.& In this election, five Black candidates are running for Congress, four for State Senate, and 13 for Assembly.& Below are the Black candidates (in bold letters) running for Congress and the State Legislature:Congressional Races& In Congressional District 9 (Stockton), Kevin Lincoln (R), Mayor of Stockton, is challenging incumbent Josh Harder (D). Lincoln, a former Marine, is running on a platform focused on economic development, public safety, and government accountability. Harder, meanwhile, has focused on issues like healthcare access and immigration reform.&...