In an announcement, actor Hill Harper has declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the Michigan U.S. Senate race. He will be challenging leading contender U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who initiated her senate campaign in February.
Renowned for his portrayals in popular television series like ABC’s “The Good Doctor” and CBS’s “CSI: NY,” Hill Harper has garnered recognition. Additionally, he has established himself as an author, imparting guidance through books like “Letters to a Young Brother” and “The Wealth Cure.”
When asked about his motivations for entering the senate race, Harper shared with The Detroit News: “We’re in a state where I think the triple blue leadership in Lansing has done really hard work moving the state forward, but in Washington, D.C., it’s still broken. And folks feel like it’s still broken. And I’m one of them.”
He continued, “Without energized, bold leadership in the U.S. Senate, our state will continue to be held back from achieving its full potential. We deserve a better brand of politics than politics as usual, and that’s why I’m running for the U.S. Senate.”
Harper believes that the Senate lacks a vital “richness” of diversity, encompassing a range of life experiences. He intends to contribute to addressing this gap.
“As an example, if I’m elected to the U.S. Senate, I will be the only U.S. senator who is a current dues-paying, card-carrying union member. If I’m elected to the U.S. Senate, I will be one of very few small business owners in the U.S. Senate and, I believe, the only Democrat.”
He continued, “People want to see themselves reflected in their representation, and right now Michiganders don’t feel that way about their Washington, D.C., representation.”
At present, the U.S. Senate has just three Black male senators: Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.). Harper further conveyed his thoughts on this matter.
“There’s a high degree of frustration by a lot of Democrats, not just African-American Democrats in Michigan, that for the first time in 57 years Michigan does not have a Black Democratic representative in Congress. And that is going backwards. I think that that folks want to see real people-powered representation over big-donor, establishment representation.”
Hill Harper unveiled his announcement video on Monday, July 10, featuring a heartfelt message to his 7-year-old son, Pierce.
In the video, he expresses concerns about the growing division and perils present in today’s world. Harper accompanied the post with the following caption: “We can all feel it. D.C just isn’t getting things done for people – because special interests always come first. As a union organizer, single dad, and business owner, I understand the challenges Michiganders are facing right now. They demand a Senator who’ll do what’s right for ALL of us – not just lobbyists. That’s why today, I’m announcing my campaign for U.S. Senate! Believe in better – and please join our movement at the link in my bio.”
Harper faces formidable competition from Representative Elissa Slotkin, a moderate Democrat serving her third term in the House, representing a swing district. Slotkin holds a significant advantage as she began her campaign four months prior, amassing an impressive $5.8 million in donations and maintaining a bank balance of approximately $3.6 million as of June 30th.
Hill Harper’s credentials include his attending the U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidates School in 1986, as well as obtaining degrees from Brown University and Harvard Law School. Although he possesses limited political experience, he actively campaigned for President Barack Obama in Iowa and subsequently served on Obama’s Cancer Panel. Notably, Harper also played a role in the One Fair Wage campaign within Michigan.
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Fharnell M.
