By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
In Michigan, Aug. 6 will mark a battle for the U.S. Senate seat. With the political world currently in upheaval and slim majorities in the House and Senate, who takes the seat is more important than ever.
Hill Harper, an actor and union organizer, is running to be the first Black U.S. senator of Michigan. There have only been 12 Black senators in the history of the U.S. and four are currently in office. Harper has made it a focus of his campaign to get more Black people and other groups that don’t typically vote to turn out.
“I’m really focused on educating those that don’t typically vote in the primary about its importance,” Harper told the AFRO. “I get so many people that come up to me and say, ‘Hey man, I’m voting for you in November.’ And I say, ‘Well, if you don’t vote for me on Aug. 6 you’re not voting for me in November because I won’t be on that November ballot.”
The actor plans to push for women’s reproductive rights, establishing universal health care and ensuring a $15 minimum federal wage for all Americans if elected to the Senate.
“Showing up continuously in the community is the best way,” said Harper about his tactic to reach voters. “There is no meeting too small.”
The seat was made available in January 2023 after Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) announced her retirement at the end of her term. Stabenow has been in the U.S. Senate representing Michigan since 2001. She also served in the House for four years.
Harper is running against Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who has represented the state’s seventh district since 2019, former Rep. Mike Rogers (R) and several others. There are in total six candidates running for the seat, two Democrats and four Republicans.
Slotkin has had nearly two decades of experience working for the federal government in the CIA, Department of State, Department of Defense and the Office of the National Security Council.
Harper responded to the political experience of his opponents and why he is the person Michiganders should choose in August.
“It’s very clear: You look at the makeup of the U.S. Senate and we don’t need more career politicians in that body,” said Harper. “We need people with diverse lived experience and folks who aren’t beholden to special interests and corporate interests.”
Nina Kasniunas, an associate professor of political science at Goucher College, said she believes he has an uphill battle before him, but nothing is impossible.
“It’s not out of the realm of possibility,” said Kasniunas. “(His celebrity status and support) kind of elevates him into what we would consider possibly a quality challenger, because of the fundraising ability based off of the notoriety or celebrity, but he will have a hard time.”
“Slotkin has run for office before and has won. She knows how to run a campaign,” said Kasniunas. “Of people who vote, they’re probably going to be quite familiar with Slotkin.”
Harper emphasized the importance of voter turnout for his success in August.
“Now that we’re down towards the end, everything’s about getting people to vote,” he said. “This whole thing is about voter turnout. I win with a high voter turnout.”