Look Who's Running: Black Republicans Seeking Political Office

A look at 2013/2014 conservative candidates.

They're the Ticket - Like Democrats, Republicans come in different ideological stripes but have one thing in common: a desire to rein in government spending. This group of Black GOPers could make history in city halls and state houses across the nation and on Capitol Hill. — Joyce Jones   (Photo: REUTERS/Eric Thayer/LANDOV)

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They're the Ticket - Like Democrats, Republicans come in different ideological stripes but have one thing in common: a desire to rein in government spending. This group of Black GOPers could make history in city halls and state houses across the nation and on Capitol Hill. — Joyce Jones (Photo: REUTERS/Eric Thayer/LANDOV)

Michael Ovitz, Illinois General Assembly - Corporate attorney Michael Ovitz is running for a seat in the Illinois General Assembly. The Republican state representative hopeful says his focus is economic growth, a failing school system, crime and a pension crisis. He will appear on the primary ballot in March 2014.  (Photo: Courtesy of Michael Ovitz)

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Michael Ovitz, Illinois General Assembly - Corporate attorney Michael Ovitz is running for a seat in the Illinois General Assembly. The Republican state representative hopeful says his focus is economic growth, a failing school system, crime and a pension crisis. He will appear on the primary ballot in March 2014. (Photo: Courtesy of Michael Ovitz)

Will Hurd for Congress (Texas) - Former CIA operative and San Antonio, Texas, native Will Hurd is making his second bid for Congress. He ran unsuccessfully in 2010 but the Republican hopes to unseat freshman U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego, a Democrat, in 2014.(Photo: Courtesy of Will Hurd for Congress)

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Will Hurd, 23rd Congressional District of Texas - Former CIA operative and San Antonio, Texas, native Will Hurd is making his second bid for Congress. He ran unsuccessfully in 2010, but the Republican hopes to unseat freshman U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego, a Democrat, in 2014. As a congressman Hurd, 36, hopes to help rein in government spending and regulation that threatens the nation's economic security. (Photo: Courtesy of Will Hurd for Congress)

Kim Taylor, New Jersey General Assembly - Kim Taylor is running to represent District 15 on New Jersey's General Assembly. She was unopposed in June's Republican primary but will face two Democratic incumbents and a Republican candidate in the November 2013 general election. Taylor ran unsuccessfully for the same office in 2009.   (Photo: Kim Taylor via Twitter)

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Kim Taylor, New Jersey General Assembly - Kim Taylor is running to represent District 15 on New Jersey's General Assembly. She was unopposed in June's Republican primary but will face two Democratic incumbents and a Republican candidate in the November 2013 general election. Taylor ran unsuccessfully for the same office in 2009. (Photo: Kim Taylor via Twitter)

Bill Randall, Mayor of Wake Forest, North Carolina - Navy veteran Bill Randall is running for mayor in Wake Forest, North Carolina. It is his first bid for elective office. "I have the proven leadership skills, personal integrity and business acumen to ensure that Wake Forest is moving in the right direction," says Randall, who will learn his fate on Nov. 5, 2013.  (Photo: Courtesy of Bill Randall for Wake Forest Mayor)

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Bill Randall, Mayor of Wake Forest, North Carolina - Navy veteran Bill Randall is running for mayor in Wake Forest, North Carolina. It is his first bid for elective office. "I have the proven leadership skills, personal integrity and business acumen to ensure that Wake Forest is moving in the right direction," says Randall, who will learn his fate on Nov. 5, 2013. (Photo: Courtesy of Bill Randall for Wake Forest Mayor)

Photo By Courtesy ofBill Randall for Wake Forest Mayor

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Charles Lollar, Governor of Maryland - Maryland businessman Charles Lollar is running for governor in the 2014 campaign cycle. He is a Tea Party conservative, who describes himself as a fiscal conservative and social libertarian. (Photo: Courtesy of Charles Lollar)

Glo Smith for Congress - Glo Smith is the GOP nominee to represent Florida's 5th congressional district. She is challenging incumbent Democrat Rep. Corrine Brown, who is seeking re-election to her 12th term. This is the social-services administrator and small businesswoman's first bid for elected office.(Photo: Courtesy of Glo For Congress)

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Glo Smith, 5th Congressional District of Florida - Republican Glo Smith is taking on incumbent Florida Rep. Corrine Brown in 2014. Smith is a former aide to ex-Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, a once-rising star who was forced to resign earlier this year because of her alleged connection to an investigation of Internet cafés. She believes she is a "uniquely qualified alternative" who understands "the district's plight." (Photo: Courtesy of Glo For Congress)

Lisa Fritsch, Governor of Texas - Lisa Fritsch hopes to succeed retiring Texas Gov. Rick Perry in 2014. She wants to "serve her state with a focus on a transparent government that is not influenced by special interests and with smart policymaking that does not leave anyone behind," she says.  (Photo: Courtesy of Lisa Fritsch for Governor)

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Lisa Fritsch, Governor of Texas - Lisa Fritsch hopes to succeed retiring Texas Gov. Rick Perry in 2014. She wants to "serve her state with a focus on a transparent government that is not influenced by special interests and with smart policymaking that does not leave anyone behind," she says. (Photo: Courtesy of Lisa Fritsch for Governor)

John Campbell Jr., New Jersey General Assembly - John Campbell Jr., 24, is vying for a seat on the New Jersey Assembly in 2013. He previously worked for former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, and is currently a small business owner. His campaign motto is "People Before Politics."   (Photo: Courtesy of John Campbell for New Jersey General Assembly)

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John Campbell Jr., New Jersey General Assembly - John Campbell Jr., 24, is vying for a seat on the New Jersey Assembly in 2013. He previously worked for former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, and is currently a small business owner. His campaign motto is "People Before Politics." (Photo: Courtesy of John Campbell for New Jersey General Assembly)

Brenda Lenard, U.S. Senate, Tennessee - Nonprofit leader Brenda Lenard hopes to win election in 2014 to represent Tennessee as a U.S. senator. She is a "commonsense conservative," who wants to change Washington and return this nation to limited constitutional government with unlimited individual opportunity for Americans.  (Photo: Courtesy of Brenda Lenard)

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Brenda Lenard, U.S. Senate, Tennessee - Nonprofit leader Brenda Lenard hopes to win election in 2014 to represent Tennessee as a U.S. senator. She is a "commonsense conservative," who wants to change Washington and return this nation to limited constitutional government with unlimited individual opportunity for Americans. (Photo: Courtesy of Brenda Lenard)

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Mia Love, 4th Congressional District of Utah - Mia Love, currently mayor of Sarasota Springs, Utah, made a splash in 2012 during her first run for Congress. Her bid was unsuccessful, but the Black Republican Mormon feels she will run a much stronger campaign the second time around in 2014.  (Photo: Pete Marovich/Getty Images)

Erika Harold, 13th Congressional District of Illinois - Illinois attorney and former Miss America Erika Harold is pro-life and opposes proposals to increase individual and corporate tax rates and efforts to encroach on the Second Amendment right to bear arms. If elected in 2014, Harold would become the first female African-American Republican to serve in Congress, or one of two if Mia Love, mayor of Sarasota Springs, Utah, also wins her bid.  (Photo: AP Photo/The News-Gazette, John Dixon, File) 

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Erika Harold, 13th Congressional District of Illinois - Illinois attorney and former Miss America Erika Harold is pro-life and opposes proposals to increase individual and corporate tax rates and efforts to encroach on the Second Amendment right to bear arms. If elected in 2014, Harold would become the first female African-American Republican to serve in Congress, or one of two if Mia Love, mayor of Sarasota Springs, Utah, also wins her bid. (Photo: AP Photo/The News-Gazette, John Dixon, File) 

Stefani Carter, Texas Railroad Commissioner - State Rep. Stefani Carter has launched a campaign for Texas Railroad commissioner. It could be the first step in building a statewide coalition. If elected in 2014, she would be the first Black woman to serve on the commission. The Dallas Republican was the first Black woman Republican elected to the Texas state legislature.  (Photo: Courtesy of Stefani Carter)

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Stefani Carter, Texas Railroad Commissioner - State Rep. Stefani Carter has launched a campaign for Texas Railroad commissioner. It could be the first step in building a statewide coalition. If elected in 2014, she would be the first Black woman to serve on the commission. The Dallas Republican was the first Black woman Republican elected to the Texas state legislature. (Photo: Courtesy of Stefani Carter)

Katrina Pierson, 32nd Congressional District of Texas - Tea Party activist Katrina Pierson is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Pete Sessions. Her 2014 bid has been endorsed by the conservative political group FreedomWorks.  (Photo: Courtesy of Katrina Pierson for Congress)

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Katrina Pierson, 32nd Congressional District of Texas - Tea Party activist Katrina Pierson is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Pete Sessions. Her 2014 bid has been endorsed by the conservative political group FreedomWorks. (Photo: Courtesy of Katrina Pierson for Congress)

David Earl Williams III, 9th Congressional District of Illinois - David Earl Williams III, 29, is challenging Democratic incumbent Rep. Jan Schakowsky in 2014. He is running as a Republican but is more of a libertarian.(Photo: Courtesy of David Earl Williams III for Congress)

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David Earl Williams III, 9th Congressional District of Illinois - David Earl Williams III, 29, is challenging Democratic incumbent Rep. Jan Schakowsky in 2014. He is running as a Republican but is more of a libertarian.(Photo: Courtesy of David Earl Williams III for Congress)

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A.D. Lenoir Sr., Miami Dade Commissioner - A.D. Lenoir Sr., a Florida-based pastor, is running to win a seat in 2014 on the Miami Dade Commission. His political values include honesty, integrity, trust, accessibility, transparency and dignity, he says.  (Photo: Courtesy of Pastory AD Lenoir)

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A.D. Lenoir Sr., Miami Dade Commissioner - A.D. Lenoir Sr., a Florida-based pastor, is running to win a seat in 2014 on the Miami Dade Commission. His political values include honesty, integrity, trust, accessibility, transparency and dignity, he says. (Photo: Courtesy of Pastory AD Lenoir)

Michael Scott Carter, Illinois State Treasurer - Michael Scott Carter is running for Illinois State Treasurer in 2014. He wants to champion "bedrock conservative values and become the voice for the future of the Republican Party.  (Photo: Courtesy of Michael Scott Carter)

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Michael Scott Carter, Illinois State Treasurer - Michael Scott Carter is running for Illinois State Treasurer in 2014. He wants to champion "bedrock conservative values and become the voice for the future of the Republican Party. (Photo: Courtesy of Michael Scott Carter)

Chris Hailey, Sheriff, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina  - Chris Hailey, a former member of the Raleigh Police Department and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, is running to become Mecklenburg County sheriff in 2014. Currently director of public safety training at Central Piedmont Community College, he first ran for the office in 2010, receiving more than 83,000 votes.  (Photo: Courtesy of Chris Hailey for Sheriff)

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Chris Hailey, Sheriff, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina  - Chris Hailey, a former member of the Raleigh Police Department and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, is running to become Mecklenburg County sheriff in 2014. Currently director of public safety training at Central Piedmont Community College, he first ran for the office in 2010, receiving more than 83,000 votes. (Photo: Courtesy of Chris Hailey for Sheriff)