Party Time: Black Democrats Running for Office

A look at Black Democrats seeking office in 2013 and 2014.

It Takes a Village - African-Americans have a role to play at all levels of government. And while a presidential bid may be the political equivalent of going for the gold, no office is insignificant. Here's a group of Black Democrats who have their eyes on the prize, from small-town mayor to U.S. senator. — Joyce Jones (Photo: Astrid Riecken For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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It Takes a Village - African-Americans have a role to play at all levels of government. And while a presidential bid may be the political equivalent of going for the gold, no office is insignificant. Here's a group of Black Democrats who have their eyes on the prize, from small-town mayor to U.S. senator. — Joyce Jones (Photo: Astrid Riecken For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Val Applewhite, Mayor, Fayetteville, North Carolina - Val Applewhite, currently a member of the Fayetteville, North Carolina, city council, hopes to be the city's newly elected mayor on Nov. 5, 2013. She is the only woman and African-American in the race, which helps increase her odds in a majority Black city. She also has a good story. Applewhite served in the Air Force for more than 20 years and survived the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on Sept. 11. (Photo: Courtesy of Val Applewhite for Mayor)

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Val Applewhite, Mayor, Fayetteville, North Carolina - Val Applewhite, currently a member of the Fayetteville, North Carolina, city council, hopes to be the city's newly elected mayor on Nov. 5, 2013. She is the only woman and African-American in the race, which helps increase her odds in a majority Black city. She also has a good story. Applewhite served in the Air Force for more than 20 years and survived the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on Sept. 11. (Photo: Courtesy of Val Applewhite for Mayor)

Patrick Cannon, Mayor, Charlotte, North Carolina - City council member Patrick Cannon has been filling in since former mayor Anthony Foxx left Charlotte, North Carolina, for Washington, D.C. On Nov. 5, he hopes to win the seat on a more permanent basis. Cannon, who also owns a parking management business, "supports traditional Democratic causes, but his deliberations and ultimate decisions are influenced by a conservative streak that [Foxx] didn't share," the Charlotte Observer reports. (Photo: Courtesy of Patrick Cannon)

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Patrick Cannon, Mayor, Charlotte, North Carolina - City council member Patrick Cannon has been filling in since former mayor Anthony Foxx left Charlotte, North Carolina, for Washington, D.C. On Nov. 5, he hopes to win the seat on a more permanent basis. Cannon, who also owns a parking management business, "supports traditional Democratic causes, but his deliberations and ultimate decisions are influenced by a conservative streak that [Foxx] didn't share," the Charlotte Observer reports. (Photo: Courtesy of Patrick Cannon)

Valerie Foushee, State Senator, North Carolina - Long-time North Carolina state representative Valerie Foushee was recently selected to fill the state Senate seat of a retiring legislator. While campaigning for election to the seat in 2014, Foushee says her priority will be to fight the state's controversial voting laws. (Photo: Courtesy of Valerie Foushee)

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Valerie Foushee, State Senator, North Carolina - Long-time North Carolina state representative Valerie Foushee was recently selected to fill the state Senate seat of a retiring legislator. While campaigning for election to the seat in 2014, Foushee says her priority will be to fight the state's controversial voting laws. (Photo: Courtesy of Valerie Foushee)

Bakari Sellers for Lieutenant Governor (South Carolina) - South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers is a civil rights legacy. The son of leader and activist Cleveland Sellers is just 29 and has served in the statehouse since 2006. He believes he's ready for a promotion to lieutenant governor. According to one local newspaper, his race against former state attorney general Henry McMaster represents "something old [and] something new." If elected, Sellers could join Republican Tim Scott, who's running for his first full term as U.S. senator, as one of two African-Americans to be elected statewide since Reconstruction. (Photo: Courtesy of Bakari Sellers)

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Bakari Sellers, South Carolina Lieutenant Governor - South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers has served in the General Assembly since 2006. Now, the son of civil rights leader Cleveland Sellers and rising political star in his own right is planning to move up to lieutenant governor in 2014. (Photo: Courtesy of Bakari Sellers)

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Shirley McKellar, 1st Congressional District of Texas - Military veteran and nonprofit business owner Shirley McKellar wants to unseat incumbent Republican Congressman Louis Gohmert in 2014. This is her second bid for a seat in Congress. The self-described "conservative Democrat" in 2012 received about 27 percent of the vote compared to Gohmert's 71 percent. (Photo: Courtesy of Vote Shirley McKellar)

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Shirley McKellar, 1st Congressional District of Texas - Military veteran and nonprofit business owner Shirley McKellar wants to unseat incumbent Republican Congressman Louis Gohmert in 2014. This is her second bid for a seat in Congress. The self-described "conservative Democrat" in 2012 received about 27 percent of the vote compared to Gohmert's 71 percent. (Photo: Courtesy of Vote Shirley McKellar)

John James, Mayor, Midland, Texas - Midland, Texas, city council member John James will face off on Nov. 5 against Jerry Morales to become the city's first non-white mayor. A win for either man would be history making, but James, who owns an industrial coatings company, told the New York Times that he's "not running to be the first Black mayor of Midland." African-Americans make up less than 10 percent of the city's population. (Photo: Courtesy of John James for Mayor)

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John James, Mayor, Midland, Texas - Midland, Texas, city council member John James will face off on Nov. 5 against Jerry Morales to become the city's first non-white mayor. A win for either man would be history making, but James, who owns an industrial coatings company, told the New York Times that he's "not running to be the first Black mayor of Midland." African-Americans make up less than 10 percent of the city's population. (Photo: Courtesy of John James for Mayor)

Chris Tyson, Louisiana Secretary of State - Louisiana State University law professor Chris Tyson is thinking ahead. He has already announced his candidacy and begun raising money for a 2015 bid to become Louisiana's next secretary of state. (Photo: Courtesy of Chris Tyson for Secretary of State)

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Chris Tyson, Louisiana Secretary of State - Louisiana State University law professor Chris Tyson is thinking ahead. He has already announced his candidacy and begun raising money for a 2015 bid to become Louisiana's next secretary of state. (Photo: Courtesy of Chris Tyson for Secretary of State)

Steve Brown, Texas Railroad Commissioner - Steve Brown, a former chairman of the Fort Bend County Democratic Party and veteran of the Clinton White House, is considering a bid for Texas Railroad commissioner in 2014. Don't let the name fool you. The commission, whose name Brown will seek to change if elected, regulates the state's massive energy resources and industry. It also could be a ticket to higher, statewide office. (Photo: Courtesy of Steve Brown for Fort Bend County)

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Steve Brown, Texas Railroad Commissioner - Steve Brown, a former chairman of the Fort Bend County Democratic Party and veteran of the Clinton White House, is considering a bid for Texas Railroad commissioner in 2014. Don't let the name fool you. The commission, whose name Brown will seek to change if elected, regulates the state's massive energy resources and industry. It also could be a ticket to higher, statewide office. (Photo: Courtesy of Steve Brown for Fort Bend County)

Steen Miles, U.S. Senate, Georgia - Former journalist and Georgia state senator Steen Miles has her sights on the U.S. Senate for her third act. "I'm fully plugged in to the pulse of people from every walk of life and completely understand what keeps Georgians awake at night," the 2014 hopeful says. "I am solution-oriented and see opportunities rather than issues." (Photo: Courtesy of Steen Miles for US Sentae)

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Steen Miles, U.S. Senate, Georgia - Former journalist and Georgia state senator Steen Miles has her sights on the U.S. Senate for her third act. "I'm fully plugged in to the pulse of people from every walk of life and completely understand what keeps Georgians awake at night," the 2014 hopeful says. "I am solution-oriented and see opportunities rather than issues." (Photo: Courtesy of Steen Miles for US Sentae)

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Connie Stokes, Governor, Georgia - Businesswoman and former state senator Connie Stokes has launched a bid to become Georgia's 83rd governor in 2014. Her five-point leadership plan will focus on jobs and education, access to affordable health care, open and honest government, transportation and infrastructure and preserving the environment. (Photo: Courtesy of Connie Stokes for Governor)

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Connie Stokes, Governor, Georgia - Businesswoman and former state senator Connie Stokes has launched a bid to become Georgia's 83rd governor in 2014. Her five-point leadership plan will focus on jobs and education, access to affordable health care, open and honest government, transportation and infrastructure and preserving the environment. (Photo: Courtesy of Connie Stokes for Governor)

Ken Dious, 10th Congressional District of Georgia - Athens, Georgia, attorney Ken Dious has announced plans for a 2014 bid for the congressional seat incumbent Rep. Paul Broun is vacating to run for the Senate. (Photo: Courtesy of Ken Dious)

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Ken Dious, 10th Congressional District of Georgia - Athens, Georgia, attorney Ken Dious has announced plans for a 2014 bid for the congressional seat incumbent Rep. Paul Broun is vacating to run for the Senate. (Photo: Courtesy of Ken Dious)

Nina Turner, Ohio Secretary of State  - For the past few years, Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner has been an outspoken opponent of efforts in her state that would disenfranchise voters. Turner says she's "running for secretary of state because I believe Ohio needs to be the gold standard for elections," the Plain Dealer reports. If her 2014 bid succeeds, she will be the first African-American to win statewide office there.  (Photo: Tony Dejak/AP Photo)

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Nina Turner, Ohio Secretary of State  - For the past few years, Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner has been an outspoken opponent of efforts in her state that would disenfranchise voters. Turner says she's "running for secretary of state because I believe Ohio needs to be the gold standard for elections," the Plain Dealer reports. If her 2014 bid succeeds, she will be the first African-American to win statewide office there.  (Photo: Tony Dejak/AP Photo)

Anthony Brown for Governor (Maryland) - Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown currently holds a modest seven-point lead in his race against Republican Larry Hogan to become Maryland's next governor. The Washington Post on Oct. 12 endorsed Brown's candidacy, albeit in a lesser of two evils kind of way. "Mr. Brown is the more knowledgeable man and the more nimble politician; he would make a better governor," the editors wrote. "His record in public office is hardly unblemished — the disastrous rollout of the state’s health-care exchange was mismanaged under his watch. But Mr. Brown’s breadth of experience, coupled with the lack of credibility at the heart of Mr. Hogan’s program, inform our endorsement." If Brown prevails on Nov. 4, he will be the first  African-American to hold the state's top spot. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times/The Washington Times /Landov)

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Anthony Brown, Maryland Governor - Maryland Lieutenant Gov. Anthony Brown is running for the state's top job and has the support of current Gov. Martin O’Malley, who is stepping down in 2014. Brown is a Harvard Law School graduate and Iraq war veteran. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times /Landov)

Danatus King, Mayor, New Orleans, Louisiana - New Orleans NAACP president Danatus King is challenging incumbent Mayor Mitch Landrieu in 2014. King believes "the current administration has neglected low-income communities such as the Lower 9th Ward and eastern New Orleans," Nola.com reports. (Photo: TIMES-PICAYUNE /LANDOV)

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Danatus King, Mayor, New Orleans, Louisiana - New Orleans NAACP president Danatus King is challenging incumbent Mayor Mitch Landrieu in 2014. King believes "the current administration has neglected low-income communities such as the Lower 9th Ward and eastern New Orleans," Nola.com reports. (Photo: TIMES-PICAYUNE /LANDOV)

Rick Wade, U.S. Senate, South Carolina - Rick Wade, a former U.S. Commerce Department official and Obama campaign veteran has tossed his hat into the 2014 South Carolina U.S. Senate race. His bid sets up an historic first: a race between two Black candidates for U.S. Senate, Wade and Sen. Tim Scott, who was appointed to the seat in 2012 by Gov. Nikki Haley. (Photo: Courtesy of Rick Wade)

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Rick Wade, U.S. Senate, South Carolina - Rick Wade, a former U.S. Commerce Department official and Obama campaign veteran has tossed his hat into the 2014 South Carolina U.S. Senate race. His bid sets up an historic first: a race between two Black candidates for U.S. Senate, Wade and Sen. Tim Scott, who was appointed to the seat in 2012 by Gov. Nikki Haley. (Photo: Courtesy of Rick Wade)