Who Is The 2nd African American To Be Elected Governor?

While attending the Congressional Black Caucus in September 2005, I stopped at an unknown candidate’s table in the exhibition hall. I listened intensely and even watched the quick video displayed about the candidate. The candidate and his staff were abreast of the issues of their state of Massachusetts and vigorously fundraising right there on the spot. I took his contact information and made a mental note to watch his campaign.

As the year went by, I watched the polling for him. By December 2005, the current popular Republican office holder decided not to run for re-election. This guy now began to gain traction. I admired his tenacity, but I never thought he could win – at least not in the state of Massachusetts.

Well, a year later he wins the election and becomes Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts -- the second African American in history to be elected to this office. The first was Governor Douglas Wilder of Virginia, although P.B.S Pinchback of Louisiana served for 35 days during Reconstruction. Anyway, I was elated. I knew then that the tides were turning in politics.

On Wednesday of the Democratic National Convention, I’d just arrived at the ‘Big Tent’ which was designed for new media covering the event. As I was logging onto my laptop to check my email, I looked up at the table in front of me, to my surprise, Governor Patrick was there blogging.



What a difference three years can make. He is now a rising political star in the Democratic Party.

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