In keeping with his unity-themed campaign, Hill Harper reached out to EL CENTRAL Hispanic News requesting an interview before the primary election. I had the opportunity to meet Senate Candidate Harper before his formal announcement. Yes, he is an actor and Detroit entrepreneur, but moreover, he is an intellectual, having earned his Law Degree from Harvard. When I listened to him speak, I was more than impressed as he expressed empathy and compassion for people in addressing core Democratic issues and values. He engages issues in broad strokes and buckets demonstrating his understanding of how the Senate works, leaving the more specific aspects of legislation for House Representatives. Point being, he is not inclined to make promises he can’t keep. That’s called integrity. Hill Harper instills confidence that emanates from his genuine authenticity, a grounded perspective along with a measure of humility. In political speak, this metric is called “likeability”. He has worked extensively with our community on the west side of the state and in rural areas.
While his campaign is largely derived from the National Democratic Party playbook, which I will dissect in articles leading up to the general election in November, it is noteworthy that his priority is for people to VOTE. Putting you first, before his interest in who you vote for. He shared with me his campaign’s updated primary voter data for Michigan.
I am asking you, dear reader, to please invest a few more moments of your time to grasp the significance of this information: Only 10% of eligible voters turn out for the Michigan primary. Hispanics make up 5% of our state’s population. Statistical estimates suggest that approximately half of those are eligible to vote. Without doing the mathematical extensions this translates into Hispanics wielding a potential 25% of the primary vote in Michigan; this could materialize, if and only if, every Hispanic/Latino eligible to vote, registers and exercises their right to vote. Most elections are won or lost by less than 5%. We have it within our ability to elect whoever we want to represent us and everyone else. The Michigan primary, August 6, is for the down ticket, Senate, Congress, etc. with the Presidential Primary having taken place earlier this year.
Senate Candidate Hill Harper asked only one thing of us: That we VOTE!
