Democrats love to talk about intersectionality.
However, for all their identity politics, the intersection Democrats care most about is being a Democrat.
And now the Congressional Black Caucus is making an endorsement in a battleground district that has voters scratching their heads.
Congressional Democrat Caucus
The Congressional Black Caucus launched in 1971.
Since inception, the CBC claims to be committed to “using the full Constitutional power, statutory authority, and financial resources of the federal government to ensure that African Americans and other marginalized communities in the United States have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.”
That’s why the CBC Chair Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio’s most recent endorsement is so puzzling.
Indiana’s First Congressional District covers the northwest corner of the state and encompasses the Chicago-adjacent Gary, Indiana.
According to the 2020 census, more than three-quarters of Gary’s population is black.
However, the CBC has decided to endorse incumbent Rep. Frank Mrvan (D) over challenger Jennifer-Ruth Green (R).
First-term Congressman, Mrvan, is a white man.
Green is a black woman.
Party above all else
So, why would the Congressional BLACK Caucus endorse a white man over a black woman when they claim to be bringing the American dream to “African Americans and other marginalized communities?”
The answer is pretty simple.
Mrvan is a Democrat and Green is a Republican.
And for the CBC, party affiliation matters more than skin color.
Because in their opinion, a white socialist better understands the needs of black people than a black conservative.
Along with its endorsement, the CBC donated $5,000 to Mrvan’s campaign – which is helpful considering, according to campaign finance reports, Air Force reservist Green has outraised the incumbent by nearly a half-million dollars.
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball recently changed the battleground district from “leans Democratic” to a “toss up.”
Cook Political Report made the same move.
RealClearPolitics also has the race marked as a tossup.
The only outlier is Nate Silver’s 538, which is lagging, still having the district listed as “likely Democrat.”
Mrvan led the only public poll in the race by 7-points, however, that was all the way back in early May, which is a political lifetime ago.
A Republican hasn’t won Indiana’s First Congressional District since 1928.
A win by Green would mark a massive swing in the district in just two short years – when Mrvan won the then-open seat in 2020 by 16-points.
Republican sent to the back of the bus
This isn’t the first time the CBC has played politics with race.
In fact, just last year the CBC blocked the very conservative Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida – a black man — from joining its ranks.
“The sad reality is although the Congressman and those in the CBC share the same race, the (R) behind his name disqualifies him from membership today,” Rep. Donalds’ spokesman Harrison Fields said at the time.
The CBC currently has no Republican members.
