Marquita Bradshaw facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marquita Bradshaw
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Bradshaw in Morristown, Tennessee, 2020
|
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 19, 1974 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relations | John DeBerry (uncle) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of Memphis (BLS) |
Marquita Bradshaw was born on January 19, 1974. She is an American environmentalist, an activist, and a political leader. She was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Tennessee in 2020. She made history as the first African American woman to win a major political party's nomination for a statewide election in Tennessee. Bradshaw ran against Republican Bill Hagerty in the main election and did not win.
After the 2020 election, Bradshaw started an organization called Sowing Justice. This group works on environmental and political issues. She also ran for the U.S. Senate again in 2024 but lost in the Democratic primary election to Gloria Johnson.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Marquita Bradshaw grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. When she was a child, her family was very active in their community. They worked to raise awareness about pollution coming from the Memphis Defense Depot. This was a military base in Memphis that had become polluted. It was later named a Superfund site in 1992, meaning it needed a lot of cleanup. Her parents started a "concerned citizen committee" because people in the area believed the pollution was making them sick.
Bradshaw was also inspired by her uncle, John DeBerry. He was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for many years, representing the Democratic Party. Marquita Bradshaw studied journalism and communication at the University of Memphis. She earned a special degree called a Bachelor of Liberal Studies.
Career and Activism
Marquita Bradshaw is a leader in environmental protection. She is the chair of the environmental justice committee for the Tennessee chapter of the Sierra Club. This group works to protect the environment. She has also worked with many community groups, environmental organizations, and worker unions. These include the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center and the AFL–CIO.
Running for U.S. Senate in 2020
In October 2019, Bradshaw announced she would run for a U.S. Senate seat. The seat was being left open by Senator Lamar Alexander, who was retiring. She explained that many members of the Senate were very wealthy. She felt they did not truly represent working-class people like herself. She wanted to bring the voices of everyday Tennesseans to the Senate.
Bradshaw focused her campaign on "environmental justice." This means making sure that all people, especially those in communities of color and low-income areas, have the same protection from environmental pollution. She said that people of color and poor people often face different environmental laws than others. Her platform also supported ideas like "Medicare for All" and the "Green New Deal." These are plans to improve healthcare and fight climate change. She also supported stricter background checks for buying guns.
In the Democratic primary election, Bradshaw was one of five candidates. Many people expected another candidate, James Mackler, to win easily. He had raised a lot more money for his campaign than Bradshaw. However, on August 6, Bradshaw won the primary election with 35.5% of the votes. This was a big surprise and drew national attention. Her win was the first time a candidate not supported by the main Democratic Party group for Senate elections had won since 2010. It was also the first time a Black woman had been chosen as a candidate for a statewide office by either major party in Tennessee.
After her win, many important political figures and groups supported her. These included Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders, and the Sunrise Movement. Bradshaw promised to visit all 95 counties in Tennessee to campaign.
She faced Republican candidate Bill Hagerty in the main election on November 3, 2020. Hagerty won the election. Republicans have held both of Tennessee's Senate seats since 1994.
After the Senate Elections
After her 2020 Senate campaign, Bradshaw started Sowing Justice. This organization works to get people more involved in their communities. It also continues to promote environmental justice.
In August 2021, many environmental groups asked President Biden to appoint new members to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This commission makes important decisions about energy in the U.S. These groups suggested Bradshaw as a good choice. They believed a new commissioner should focus on science, fairness, and ending the use of dirty fossil fuels. Bradshaw said that FERC should support a "just transition." This means moving to cleaner energy sources in a way that is fair to everyone. She believes this will help stop pollution from our energy and economy.
Marquita Bradshaw ran for the U.S. Senate again in 2024. She sought the Democratic nomination but lost the primary election to Gloria Johnson.
See also
- Black women in American politics
- List of African-American United States Senate candidates
