OPINION: Supporting these ‘three of a kind’ will advance democracy

What do Ty Pinkins, Dianne Dodson Black, and Craig Elliot Raybon have in common aside from all being from Mississippi? Pinkins is from Rolling Fork, Black is from Oliver Branch and Raybon is from Gulfport.

 The things making them “three of a kind” include all are candidates for Congress this fall. Pinkins is running for the U.S. Senate from the state of Mississippi; Black, for the U.S. House of Representatives, Mississippi District One; and Raybon for the U.S. House of Representatives, Mississippi District Four. They are all running as Democrats. They are all new candidates challenging incumbent office-holders. They all grew-up in poor or very humble circumstances. They are all African American. They are all fairly unknown and have small budgets with which to promote themselves and their positions. Beyond those facts, however, and perhaps most importantly, they all support ideas and issues that advance democracy.

The ideas and issues that we hereby assert as advancing democracy include: Medicaid Expansion, exposing and opposing voter suppression measures, strong public schools, minimum wage laws and the right of workers to unionize, the passage of laws to require the wealthy and corporations to pay their fair share of income taxes, supporting strong environmental and health regulations, and most of the other positions taken by the Democratic Party at its latest national convention. 

These “three of a kind” – Pinkins, Black, and Raybon – have put forth great efforts to explain how important the issues are and how their opponents have been opposed to the measures. The reality, however, is that they need help and support to carry the message across the state. Make it a solemn pledge and a firm duty to spread the word, helping them and ourselves. 

We can focus on Pinkins because he is running for the Senate. Everybody in the state can vote for him. If he is elected, that would make it easier for the Democrats to maintain control of the Senate. With control of the Senate, they can begin to fix the things threatening the operation of democracy, things like expanding the Supreme Court and filling the Cabinet and federal agencies with people devoted to stability and the rule of law. Without Democratic control of the Senate, a Democratic president would be so crippled that very little can get done.

Pinkins has his heart in the right place and has the kind of training and experiences that working and marginalized people in Mississippi need in a Senator. If one just looked at the single matter of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed last year, he/she could see why the voters need to elect Pinkins to replace Roger Wicker. 

When this infrastructure bill was in the Senate, Wicker voted against it. As the money from the Act began to reach the local community, however, Wicker began trying to have people believe he had supported the bill that was now benefitting their community. That single set of incidents says several things about Wicker. (1) He realized in the beginning how beneficial such a bill could be to the people of his community, but opposed it for partisan political reasons, which shows that he places partisan politics above what’s good for his constituents. (2) He lied publicly in an attempt to keep the people from realizing his true colors and to promote himself as a candidate again. (3) He never admitted his reason for his Senate vote nor expressed any regret for the same. That kind of dishonesty by Wicker is just one of the reasons why Pinkins needs the support of the everyday people of Mississippi. 

In case you have not voted yet, remember to vote for Pinkins when you go to the poll. Also, help spread the word that it is TY PINKINS who we need in Washington to help the Democratic National Party and to help the people in Mississippi.

Similarly, we need to remember to vote for DIANNE DODSON BLACK, if we are in District One, the northeast part of the state. Remember to vote for CRAIG ELLIOT RAYBON if we are in District Four, the Gulf Coast and southeast Mississippi. The voices of these individuals need to be joined with those of Congressman BENNIE THOMPSON and the other Democrats in advancing democracy. 

If we can get enough Democrats elected to the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries will become Speaker of the House and Democrats will head the House committees. Then, we can begin to make more progress on things like accessible and affordable medical care, reproductive healthcare, housing, and student loans. There can be more progress made on things like climate control, health and safety regulations, Supreme Court changes, voting rights protection, criminal justice reform, and fair and equitable federal income taxes. 

In this election, Mississippians can and should support their “three of a kind” to help Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, and the rest of the Democratic leadership preserve and advance democracy before it is too late and the Trump MAGA will have transformed America into a full-scale white nationalist dictatorship.