The Numbers Don't Lie: Black and Brown Columbus Has Found Its Political Power

For decades, we have heard the same refrain every election season: "If we could just get our people to vote." Well, this year's election proved something many of us have believed all along.

When Black and Brown communities participate, they don't just influence elections—they decide them. The numbers tell a story that no campaign slogan ever could.

On May 19, nearly 37,000 Columbus residents went to the polls. More than 18,000 of those voters were African American. Add Hispanic, Asian, and other minority voters to the equation, and communities of color represented a larger share of the electorate than White voters.

Read that again. That is more than a statistic. That is a political awakening.

For years, political consultants built campaigns around what they believed was the "traditional" Columbus voter. Candidates spent countless hours chasing the same neighborhoods, speaking to the same civic clubs, and delivering the same promises. Meanwhile, Black and Brown neighborhoods were often visited only when it was time to ask for votes.

Those days are coming to an end.

The election of Columbus' first popularly elected Black mayor did not happen by accident. Neither did the election of Dr. Cathy Cook to an at-large seat on the City Council. These victories were built on organization, coalition building, voter education, and people finally understanding that elections have consequences.

But before we celebrate too much, let me offer a word of caution. Political power is not something you win once and keep forever. Power must be exercised. Power must be protected. Power must be renewed every election cycle.

One election does not erase decades of underrepresentation. One victory does not guarantee the next. If anything, success brings a greater responsibility. Those who now occupy public office because of the support they received from Black and Brown voters must never forget who believed in them first.

Likewise, voters cannot disappear until the next mayor's race. The real work begins after Election Day.

We must attend City Council meetings. We must serve on boards and commissions. We must mentor young leaders. We must question decisions that affect our neighborhoods, our schools, and our businesses. Democracy is not a spectator sport.

One statistic from the May election should concern all of us. Nearly 128,000 people were registered to vote, yet fewer than 37,000 cast a ballot. That means more than 90,000 registered voters stayed home.

Imagine what Columbus would look like if just half of those citizens became engaged. Imagine the schools we could improve. Imagine the businesses we could help create. Imagine the neighborhoods we could transform. Imagine the policies we could influence.

The future of Columbus will not be determined by those who complain the loudest. It will be determined by those who consistently show up.

As I have often said, this election was never just about who became mayor or who won a seat on the City Council. It was about something much larger. It was about a community discovering its collective voice and realizing that when we stand together, we possess far more influence than we ever imagined.

Black and Brown political power is no longer an idea. It is a reality. Now comes the challenge. Will we build upon it? Or will we allow history to repeat itself by becoming satisfied with one victory? I pray we choose wisely. Because our children are watching. And one day, this city will belong to them.