Several black and female Democrat candidates are not handling defeat well in the wake of Georgia’s May 22 primary, causing headaches for Democratic Party unity as it prepares for the fall election campaign. Some Democrats note this is especially undermining the party’s fragile white-black coalition.
Triana Arnold-James lost the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor by 50,000 votes, has yet to concede the race, demands a recount and says victor Sarah Riggs Amico has disrespected her. (The Secretary of State denied the recount request.) Left-wing activist George Chidi calls Arnold-James “a 47-year-old woman parading to political events in a beauty queen tiara and sash like it means something from a pay-to-win pageant.” He also goes on to remind fellow Democrats: “We have an actual, serious, non-laughing stock candidate who will need support in a close election in November.”
Then there’s Tamara Johnson-Shealey, loser of the Democratic primary nomination for the state Senate District 40 seat represented by Sen. Fran Millar, R-Dunwoody. The failed Democrat is calling on fellow party members to “withhold the vote.” This tactic, of course, goes against the state party leadership and especially the strategy of gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams who will need every vote she can muster in a Republican-dominated state. And, of course, the “withhold the vote” campaign could assist Millar in winning over Democrat nominee Sally Harrell.
Chidi complains that Johnson-Shealey advertised a “White and Woke: How Do I Wake Up Other White People,” a $200-a-seat white guilt retreat where she will regale the electorate with a vivid description of their error for not nominating her.” Chidi sarcastically says her theme seems to be: “You suck. That’ll be $200.”
Finally, there’s the primary election of Sen. Steve Henson, D-Tucker, the Senate’s white minority leader who won by just 111 votes over black challenger Sabrina McKenzie. She almost won even though she has county tax liens on her house and ran on naked racial appeals to black voters. McKenzie also demanded a recount, but nothing changed.
African-American women are a loyal part of the Democratic coalition in Georgia. With these defeated black females angry at elements within their party, mad at leading white Democrats and with some like Arnold-James even urging a voter boycott for the election, the state Democratic Party is scrambling to smooth over these serious cracks that have suddenly emerged.
The author is the publisher of InsiderAdvantage and a panelist on Fox5Atlanta’s “The Georgia Gang.”
