In a bold move aimed at harnessing the power of Black voters, a prominent ally of the Congressional Black Caucus is launching a super PAC with a mission to flip the House majority for Democrats and elect the first Black speaker of the House.
The newly formed organization, Rolling Sea Action Fund, will be led by Niccara Campbell-Wallace, former political director of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC.
Although aligned with the all-Democratic Congressional Black Caucus, Rolling Sea will operate as a “hybrid PAC,” allowing it to raise funds for candidates while also having a separate account to spend unlimited amounts on ads and other election activities.
With the upcoming special election in Rhode Island in November, where Democrats are expected to maintain a vacant seat, the party needs to flip just five seats in the 2024 congressional elections to seize control of the House.
If successful, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a former member of the Congressional Black Caucus leadership, would be poised to become the country’s first Black speaker of the House.
Rolling Sea Action Fund has expressed confidence in its ability to execute a multipronged strategy in 2024, allocating over $10 million toward advertising, in-person organizing, and community engagement.
The group’s primary focus will be on districts with over an 8% Black voting age population in the most competitive House seats. However, Campbell-Wallace did not rule out potential involvement in primary races, emphasizing the importance of empowering and mobilizing Black voters.
“We know that Black voters are the cornerstone of the Democratic Party and of protecting American democracy,” Campbell-Wallace stated in an interview ahead of the organization’s launch.
She further emphasized that the initiative is a testament to the party’s commitment to Black voters, acknowledging their pivotal role in turning out in record numbers.
“This will be something where we have an always-on effort to empower and mobilize Black voters, and make sure that we are reflecting the diversity and amazingness of America,” she added.
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The Congressional Black Caucus comprises several newer members who won closely contested races in recent years, including representatives Emilia Sykes of Ohio, Don Davis of North Carolina, Lauren Underwood of Illinois, Jahana Hayes of Connecticut, Lucy McBath of Georgia, Colin Allred of Texas, and Steven Horsford of Nevada.
Recognizing the need to diversify their own candidate roster, Republicans made a concerted effort to attract candidates of color and women, which played a significant role in their success during the 2020 House races.
While Black voters continue to strongly support Democrats, with exit polls from the 2022 midterm elections indicating an 86% alignment, recent polling has revealed a decline in the party’s overall image over the past decade.
As the 2024 elections approach, all eyes will be on Rolling Sea Action Fund and its potential to reshape the political landscape by electing the first Black speaker of the House and amplifying the voices of Black Americans nationwide.
