The Collective PAC

Fighting for Equal Representation

A Record Number of Black Candidates Running for Office Up and Down the Ballot

There’s no doubt that a record number of Black candidates have run for office on the local, state and federal level across the country this 2021-2022 election cycle and that a record number of Black candidates are officially on the general election ballot. This election cycle, The Collective PAC — the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation and power across all levels of government — has endorsed, financially supported, and advised 252 Black candidates; with 187 of them on the ballot on November 8th.

As an organization working to change the face of power by closing the representation gap in Black elected leadership at all levels of government, The Collective PAC has maintained a particular focus this cycle on candidates running in U.S. Senate, Gubernatorial and State Attorneys General races; supporting candidates including: Mandela Barnes (WI), Cheri Beasley (NC), Charles Booker (KY), Val Demings (FL), Rev. Raphael Warnock (GA), Stacey Abrams (GA), Deirdre DeJear (IA), Wes Moore (MD), Aramis Ayala (FL), Keith Ellison (MN), Aaron Ford (NV), and Letitia James (NY) has been our top priority for the 2022 election cycle. 

Since our founding in 2016, The Collective PAC has developed a proven track record by helping to elect 314 Black candidates to federal, congressional, statewide, and local offices across the country; including the elections of: Vice President Kamala Harris; Senator Cory Booker; Senator Raphael Warnock; Attorney General Letitia James (NY); Attorney General Keith Ellison (MN); Attorney General Aaron Ford of (NV); Attorney General Kwame Raoul (IL); Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist (MI); and Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes (WI). 

The Collective PAC’s Work During the 2021-2022 Election Cycle 

It has never been more evident than in recent years that the time to elect leaders who are ready to take action through powerful progressive policy decisions is now. To this end, The Collective PAC is working to close the representation gap of Black people at all levels of government to elect leaders that reflect and respect our communities. 

Specifically, our in-state work has been focused on 7 priority states: Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin — a combination of traditional battleground states with large Black voter populations and states that present the best opportunities to elect Black candidates to the U.S. Senate and statewide offices, as well as help maintain Democratic majorities in Congress.

The Collective PAC’s Investments & Impact

The Collective PAC has spent approximately $700,000 to help elect our candidates through direct contributions to the campaigns. We’ve also bundled $333,823 for federal and statewide candidates. Investments were contributed directly to campaigns so they can establish and grow their voter outreach and engagement initiatives. Additionally, we’ve highlighted our endorsed candidates through our email and social media platforms and worked directly with many of our candidates on earned media outreach and revamping their social media campaigns. 

Beginning in October, The Collective PAC organized 10 text banks for some of our high priority races in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Through these organizing efforts, volunteers were able to reach 2 million Black people, encouraging them to vote. 

Founders of The Collective PAC, Quentin James and Stefanie Brown James, released the following statement: 

“The Collective PAC is proud to have 187 endorsed candidates on the ballot on November 8th. We are seeing a record number of Black candidates running for public office and together they represent a new generation of leaders that stand to reshape politics for years to come. These leaders are running for office at a time when their voices and lived experiences can help shape public policy that will improve the lives of all Americans. When we have elected officials who reflect and respect the diversity of our communities, we have a government that is more effective and more responsive to the needs of their constituents. We know that the ripple effect of this election as it pertains to the prowess of Black candidates, will be felt for years to come.

This November, voters have the opportunity to elect history making and glass shattering leaders, including the country’s first and second Black woman governors in Stacey Abrams and Deidre Dejear; the U.S. Senate’s first millennial officeholders in Mandela Barnes and Charles Booker; Congress’ first Gen-Z member in Max Frost; and electing two Black women to serve in the U.S. Senate at the same time in Val Demings and Cheri Beasley. The lists of first doesn’t end there as Maryland and Arkansas could elect their first Black governors”.

Groundbreaking Candidates

The Collective PAC’s 252 endorsed candidates have made great progress this election season:

 

  • 13 candidates have won their general elections already  

 

  • 187 candidates will be on the November general election ballot

 

  • 21 candidates, if they win, will be history makers. 
    • First Black U.S. Senators in Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Wisconsin 
    • First Black U.S. House of Representatives to represent their district or state in Arizona, New Jersey, Tennessee 
    • First Gen-Z member of Congress 
    • First Black woman Governors in the history of the country via Georgia and Iowa
    • First Black Governors of Arkansas and Maryland
    • First Black Attorneys General in Florida and Massachusetts 
    • First Black Secretary of State in Ohio
    • First Black State Representative in Kansas 
    • First Black Mayor of Long Beach, California   
    • First Woman Mayor of Los Angeles, California 

 

  • 38 Federal candidates are running in 20 states: 
    • Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin

 

  • 27 Statewide candidates are running in 18 states: 
    • Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota , Nevada  New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas

 

  • 122 state and local candidates are running in 31 states: 
    • Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington

 

** For a complete list of The Collective PAC’s endorsed candidates on the November 8th ballot please see below

 

2022 Endorsed Candidates on the Nov. 8th Ballot 

Alabama

Federal

  • Dr. William Boyd – U.S. Senate, AL 
    • History Maker – 1st Black Senator from Alabama 

Statewide

State & Local

Arizona

Federal

  • Mr. Jevin Hodge – AZ – 01
    • History Maker – 1st Black Representative for his district 

Arkansas

Federal

Statewide

  • Mr. Chris Jones – Governor
    • History Maker – 1st Black Governor of Arkansas 

State & Local

  • Mr. Christopher Reed –  Arkansas State Representative in District 37

California 

Federal

Statewide 

State & Local

Colorado

State & Local

Connecticut

Federal

Statewide

Delaware

State & Local

District of Columbia

State & Local

Florida 

Federal

Statewide

  • Ms. Aramis Ayala – Attorney General
    • History Maker – 1st Black Attorney General in Florida 

State & Local 

Georgia 

Federal

Statewide

  • Ms. Stacey Abrams – Governor 
    • History Maker – 1st Black woman Governor of Georgia (United States)

State & Local

Iowa

Statewide

  • Mrs. Deidre DeJear – Governor 
    • History Maker – 1st Black Governor in Iowa (United States)

Illinois

Federal

Statewide

Indiana

Statewide

State & Local

Kansas

Statewide

State & Local

  • Mr. Brad Boyd – Kansas House District 49
    • History Maker – 1st Black state representative for District 49

Kentucky

Federal

State & Local 

  • Mr. Lamin Swann – Kentucky House, District 93
  • Ms.Shayla Lynch, Lexington City Council, District 2 
  • Ms. Denise Gray, Lexington-Fayette County Urban Government City Council, District 6

Louisiana

Federal

  • Mr. Gary Chambers – U.S. Senate
    • History Maker – 1st Black sitting Senator (a Black republican was elected in 1837 but the seat was denied) 

State & Local

Massachusetts

Statewide

  • History Maker – 1st Black Attorney General

State & Local

Maryland 

Federal

Statewide

State & Local

Michigan 

Statewide

State & Local

Minnesota

Statewide

State & Local

Mississippi

Federal

Missouri

Federal

State & Local

Nebraska

State & Local

New Hampshire

State & Local

New Jersey

Federal

  • Mr. Tim Alexander – NJ – 02
    • History Maker – 1st Black Representative for his district 

State & Local

New Mexico

Nevada

Federal

Statewide

New York

Federal

Statewide

State & Local 

North Carolina 

Federal

State & Local

Ohio  

Federal

Statewide

State & Local 

Oregon

State & Local

Pennsylvania

Federal 

Statewide

State & Local

Rhode Island

Statewide

State & Local

Tennessee 

Federal 

  • Ms. Odessa Kelly – TN – 07
    • History Maker – 1st Black woman to represent Tennessee & 1st open Black lesbian congresswoman

 State & Local

Texas

Federal

State & Local

Virginia

State & Local

State & Local

  • State Representative Jamila Taylor – House of Representatives, District 30 – Position 1
  • Mr. Matthew Macklin, Washington State Legislature, District 26 

Wisconsin

Federal

  • Mandela Barnes – U.S. Senate
    • History Maker- 1st Black Senator from Wisconsin

 

General Election Victories Prior to Nov. 8th

Arizona 

  • Ms. Berdetta Hodge – Tempe City Council
    • History Maker – 1st Black Woman elected to office in Tempe, Arizona

Georgia 

Maryland

North Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE PAC 

The Collective PAC is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Collective PAC is strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward. Over the past five years, The Collective PAC has successfully helped 300 Black candidates win elections across the United States.