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| Former Georgia Rep. Stacey Abrams was recently endorsed by U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif. |
The “Higher Education” section of her campaign website includes a paragraph with the heading “Increase Support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.” It says:
“We will invest in our Historically Black Colleges and Universities, both public and independent, to support their service to Georgia students. Through our reforms to HOPE, more students at our public HBCUs will have the economic ability to complete their education. An Abrams administration will also continue the Tuition Equalization Grants to help students afford tuition at private institutions within Georgia. We will explore how to partner with independent colleges and universities for summer bridge programs that aid students, particularly first-generation college students, in transitioning from high school to college. We will use the strength of our state finances and bond capacity to aid institutions in capital projects.”Georgia has three public HBCUs: Albany State University, Fort Valley State University, and Savannah State University. It also has seven private HBCUs: Clark Atlanta University, Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Morris Brown College, Paine College, and Spelman College.
Abrams, who is an alumna of Spelman College, served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives for the 84th District from 2007 to 2017. She was the Democratic Minority Leader from 2011 to 2017.
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif. and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. are among the officials who have endorsed her candidacy. U.S. Rep. David Scott, D-Ga., an alumnus of Florida A&M University, is also supporting her.
“Stacey Abrams is an experienced and principled leader who is not afraid to stand up for what is right and put service to families in our state first,” Scott said. “As the top-ranking Democrat in the House who has stopped tax increases on the poor and middle class, fought to expand Medicaid, protected civil rights and stood up for access to quality public education, she is undoubtedly the most qualified person in the race for governor.”
The major candidates for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Florida are: Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, business owner Chris King, and former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine.
The issues pages on the campaign websites for those candidates all have statements about supporting education, but don’t say how much more state funding they will promise for the HBCUs in Florida.
At the time of this posting (May 15, 2018), Graham is the only candidate who has even mentioned the state's HBCUs on her website’s list of campaign priorities.