The New York Times Opinion: Democrats, Look to Women of Color

To the Editor:

Re “Different Paths for Democrats to Win in 2020” (front page, Feb. 26):

Heading into 2020, Democrats would be foolish to ignore women of color, either as a powerful electorate or as policy leaders.

Research from the data firm Catalist shows that women of color have the strongest propensity to vote Democratic; 88 percent supported Democrats in the 2018 midterms, compared with 48 percent of white women and 38 percent of white men.

We also hold a substantial share of the eligible electorate in the Sun Belt, which you mention as crucial to an alternative electoral strategy: 21 percent in Georgia; 15 percent in North Carolina; and 11 percent in Texas, according to 2016 data calculated from the Current Population Survey by Catalist.

Prominent Democrats can no longer reap the benefits of winning elections on the backs of women of color while diminishing their power.

Women of color are America’s future. The Democratic Party can no longer afford to operate otherwise.

Aimee Allison
Oakland, Calif.
The writer is the founder of She the People, a national network elevating the political voice and power of women of color.