The Michigan Democratic Party’s Black Caucus has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary, at least according to Biden’s campaign.
Biden’s campaign sent out a statement Sunday saying Black Caucus Chairman Keith Williams had endorsed the Biden candidacy.
“We have seen Donald Trump wreak havoc in our communities, create division and inflame hate for three years. The stakes in this election could not be higher. This is not the time for experimentation. This is the time for steady leadership from the White House. Joe Biden fought for our communities as Barack Obama’s Vice President,” Williams said in the statement.
He praised Biden and Obama for implementing Obamacare, expanding “health care to millions of Michigan residents,” and “protecting millions more with pre-existing conditions.”
“And together they saved the auto industry and strengthened the United Auto Workers, putting our workers first,” he added.
However, what appears to be the official Facebook page for the Michigan Democratic Party’s Black Caucus has been posting negative comments about the endorsement, and self-described members of the caucus have claimed they were not aware of the endorsement.
“These seem to be open questions. As a board member, I was not aware we were considering endorsing another candidate, much less that a vote was to be taken—if one was in fact taken,” Cynthia Thornton wrote in response to a post from the Black Caucus. “Likewise, other board members and general members whom I contacted said they were not aware.”
TJ Johnson, another member of the caucus, said on Facebook that she “never got any information about this endorsement.”
“This is a major problem. But yet I can read it in the paper? Maybe I need to share my thoughts with the news of how these political organizations are not transparent as they should be,” Johnson added.
According to The Detroit News, Biden has received the endorsement of a number of Detroit leaders, including Mayor Mike Duggan, Sen. Marshall Bullock (D-Detroit), Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit), Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit), and Rep. Tenisha Yancey (D-Detroit).
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI-11) endorsed Mike Bloomberg on Saturday while Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-13) is backing Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
The Black Caucus previously endorsed Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) in the contest, but she suspended her presidential campaign in December.
The Michigan Star reached out to the Michigan Democratic Party for clarification on the Biden endorsement but has yet to receive a response. This story will be updated if and when a response is received.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Joe Biden” by Joe Biden. Background Photo “Michigan Legislative Black Caucus” by Michigan Legislative Black Caucus.
