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African Americans Feature in Political Races in SB, LA Counties

By: Manny Otiko, IVN Staff Writer

Statewide — Several African Americans were on the ballot for local positions in San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties. 

As of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sherman Garnett was the projected winner of a race for a seat on the Upland school board. The San Bernardino County Board of Election stated that he had 43 percent of the vote. 

Deborah Robertson currently led in her race to retain the Rialto mayor’s position with almost 50 percent of the vote. 

Damon L. Alexander was the projected winner for a seat on the San Bernardino City Council with 63 percent of the vote.

In Los Angeles County, District Attorney Jackie Lacey was still slightly behind Former San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón. Lacey had run afoul of the local Black Lives Matter (BLM) chapter for her failure to prosecute police officers who have been involved in fatal shootings of African Americans.

Local media reports said police dispersed a group of BLM activists in L.A. who were already celebrating Lacey’s defeat. BLM activists also confronted Lacey at her home in March and were met by her husband who waved a firearm.

Former State Sen. Holly Mitchell was the projected winner in the L.A. County Supervisor 2nd district race. She had 60 percent of the vote and led her opponent Herb J. Wesson Jr. by 100,000 votes. 

In related election news, Democratic candidate Vice President Joe Biden won L.A. County with more than 2.3 million votes. President Donald Trump received about 800,000 votes. In San Bernardino County, Biden received 270,000 votes. He led Trump by 70,000 votes. 

Rapper Kanye West, who appeared on the ticket with American Independent Party candidate Roque De La Fuente Guerra, only received 1,700 votes or 0.36 percent of the vote. 

West led a disorganized campaign and failed to appear on the ballot in several states. According to the Associated Press, he only received 60,000 votes nationwide but has alluded to running again in 2024. 

Observers were never sure whether West’s campaign was a publicity stunt or if he was being used as a spoiler to draw away African American votes from Democrats. 

“In at least five states Republican operatives have been involved with West’s efforts to get on the November ballots, according to a Washington Post analysis of public filings and social media posts, raising suspicion that some are hoping West, who has been a supporter of Trump, can siphon votes away from Democratic nominee Joe Biden in what could be very close contests around the country,” reported The Washington Post. 

According to People magazine, West’s merchandise also appeared on his campaign site and he claimed he was running for the “Birthday Party.” However, his campaign had little policy issues on display other than reintroducing prayer in school, eliminating abortion, and reducing American families’ debt burden. 

“When I’m president, let’s also have some fun,” said West in a Forbes interview. “Let’s get past all the racism conversation, let’s empower people with 40 acres and a mule, let’s give some land, that’s the plan.”

According to the Washington Post, West spent $6 million of his own money on the campaign. He also has bipolar disorder. 

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