Open Letter to Democratic Presidential Candidates: A Call for Committing to Choosing a Woman of Color as Candidate for Vice President
Dear Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders,
This year has been a difficult one for women and people of color across America. The 2020 Democratic presidential primary began with the most diverse field in history in terms of gender, age, race, ethnicity and sexuality, and the race has now come down to two white men over the age of 77.
Here is a fact: the Democratic Party needs the leadership, vision, and expertise of women and people of color now more than ever. While you cannot change who you are, you can show us who you value by committing to choose a woman of color as your running mate for Vice President.
The majority of Democratic voters are women, and nearly half of all Democratic voters are people of color. At the intersection of those communities—which make up 77% of all Democratic voters in the last two presidential elections—women of color have a unique and critical role to play in galvanizing the entire progressive coalition. In the midst of these tumultuous last three years, women of color leaders have shined the brightest path forward to keep Democrats inspired and fighting for change.
There are numerous talented women of color to choose from who would attract more voters to vote Democratic in the general election and inspire voters to show up at the polls. This choice is a first indication of how you will govern, and we want to know it will be in partnership with the constituencies that comprise the vast majority of Democratic voters..
We strongly urge you to show the leadership this moment demands by publicly committing today to picking a woman of color to serve as your Vice President.
Thank you.
Signed,
Democracy in Color
She the People
The Collective PAC
Higher Heights for America
Indivisible
Latino Victory Project
New Florida Majority
New Georgia Project Action Fund
New Virginia Majority
PowerPAC
Southern Elections Fund
Texas Organizing Project