By: Rebekah Damitz
The November 6th elections brought about much change: the Democratic party took hold of the House of Representatives, a higher number of younger individuals voted, and an increased number of women of color won various elections at local, regional, and national levels.
Regionally, Tony Evers (D) defeated Scott Walker (R) for WI Governor, Josh Kaul (D) won over Brad Schimel (R) for WI Attorney General, Bryan Steil (R) defeated Randy Bryce (D) and Ken Yorgan (I) for Speaker Paul Ryan's Congressional seat, and Tammy Baldwin (D) secured another six years as Wisconsin's Senator over Leah Vukmir (R).
'Texas Miracle'
“Never did I imagine that the day I decided to run to be judge, I’d become a part of a club of phenomenal black women, sisters-in-law, gifted, brilliant, strong – everything I hope to be!” - LaShawn A. Williams, in a Facebook post.
19 Democratic African-American women campaigned together under the slogan of #BlackGirlMagic in Harris County, TX. Harris County includes Houston, TX and has a population of more than 4.5 million people.
New Judges
According to the Harris Black Girl Magic website, the #Houston19 are:
Judge Maria T. Jackson, Presiding Judge, Candidate for Court of Criminal Appeals
Judge Ramona Franklin, Presiding Judge, Candidate for Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7
Sandra Peake, Candidate for District Judge, 257th Judicial District (Family)
Michelle Moore, Candidate for District Judge, 314th Judicial District (Juvenile)
Germaine Tanner, Candidate for District Judge, 311th Judicial District (Family)
Cassandra Y. Holleman, Candidate for Judge, County Criminal Court-At-Law No. 12
Lucia Bates, Candidate for Justice of The Peace, Precinct No. 3, Place 2
Linda Marie Dunson, Candidate for District Judge, 309th Judicial District (Family)
Dedra Davis, Candidate for District Judge, 270th Judicial District (Civil)
Lori Chambers Gray, Candidate for District Judge, 262nd Judicial District (Criminal)
Tonya Jones, Candidate for Judge, County Criminal Court-At-Law No. 15
Erica Hughes, Candidate for Judge, County Criminal Court-At-Law No 3
Sharon M. Burney, Candidate for Justice of The Peace, Precinct No. 7, Place 2
Ronnisha Bowman, Candidate for Judge County Criminal Court-At-Law No. 2
Latosha Lewis Payne, Candidate for District Judge, 55th Judicial District (Civil)
Shannon Baldwin, Candidate for Judge, County Criminal Court-At-Law No. 4
Toria J. Finch, Candidate for Judge, County Criminal Court-At-Law No. 9
LaShawn A. Williams, Candidate for Judge, County Civil Court-At-Law No. 3
Angela Graves-Harrington, Candidate for District Judge, 246th Judicial District
Importance of Intersectionality
"We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back." - Malala Yousafzai at the UN Youth Takeover
Electing 19 African American women to judicial positions shouldn't be such a historically significant event. In fact, I posit that it should be a common occurrence in our developed nation to have women of color in positions of power on a regular basis. While I believe this, I am overwhelmed with pride in this achievement for Texas.
The number of women of color in judicial positions is disproportionate to others, and White men in particular. According to figures from The Gavel Gap, the American Constitution Society found that while White men make up only 30% of the U.S. population, they make up 58% of U.S. state court judges. Women of color, only holding 20% of the U.S. population, make up 8% of state court judges. In Texas, specifically, White men (21% of population) hold 52% of state court judge positions and women of color (28% of population) hold 12% of state court judge positions.
While this is a monumental step for the advancement of women of color, it is only a step. I'm excited to see the impact of these women's judicial effect in the coming years and the rise of women and other minorities in powerful positions.