Rep. Mia Love may get some help in her tough re-election race against Ben McAdams from an unlikely source: Congressional Democrats.
Love is the only Republican in the Congressional Black Caucus. Buzzfeed reports she’s been a regular attendee at their weekly meetings and has acted as a liaison between the CBC and House Republicans.
Love is locked in a tough re-election battle with Democrat Ben McAdams (the latest UtahPolicy.com survey found Love with a 3-point lead over McAdams). The CBC’s political action committee, CBC PAC, could provide some financial assistance for Love’s race against McAdams.
Under its guidelines, it appears the CBC’s political action committee could choose to support Love for reelection: “The CBC PAC works to increase the number of African Americans in the U.S. Congress, support non-Black candidates that champion our interests, and promote African American participation in the political process — with an emphasis on young voters.” At the same time, the group would very much like Democrats to take back the majority in the House of Representatives — on day one under a Democratic majority, CBC members Reps. Maxine Waters, Elijah Cummings, and Bennie Thompson would become three of the most powerful members of the House. Rep. Jim Clyburn, another member, could even become majority leader or speaker.
“People generally do respect her, wish her well, and glad to have her as a colleague,” a top Capitol Hill staffer close to the CBC said of Love. Nearly a dozen CBC members either declined to be interviewed for this story or did not respond to a request. New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the chair of the CBC’s PAC, declined to comment, as did current CBC chair Rep. Cedric Richmond of Louisiana.
Approached in person, two members agreed they respected Love as a colleague but declined to elaborate. A third, when asked if they would prefer to win the congressional majority without Love having to lose her seat, said: “Of course.” That member, insisting on anonymity, forcefully added that winning the majority is the CBC’s main priority.
