April 24, 2020

Biden for President
Philadelphia, PA

Dear Presidential Candidate Biden,

We congratulate you as the Democratic presumptive nominee for president of the United States. We are encouraged, heartened and inspired by your commitment to select a woman as your vice- presidential running mate.

To that end, we the undersigned Black women leaders from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, from both the public and the private sectors, who have all, time and time again supported the Democratic party nationally and across the country -- -are writing to recommend and encourage you to recognize and seize this moment in our country’s history, and its bold future, by selecting a Black woman to serve as your vice-presidential running mate.

Each of the Black women who have been discussed publicly, including Leader Stacey Abrams, Congresswoman Karen Bass, Congresswoman Val Demings, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, Senator Kamala Harris, Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms, and Ambassador Susan Rice, would bring enthusiasm, strength, authority, credibility, organization, integrity, foresight, reliability, trust and honor to the Democratic ticket.

Every one of these women is already leading in the roles they presently occupy and in the leadership positions they have previously held, from the local, state, and Federal levels, including domestic and foreign policy. They have the experience, qualifications and principled core values of a true leader that would make for the right partner to help catapult the Democrats to victory in November. Every one of these women has the skills, competence, and knowledge required of an effective governing partner who will help you lead America in this unprecedented moment in our history.

Further, it is a fact that the road to the White House is powered by Black women and Black women are the key to a Democratic victory in 2020. Black women are not only the most loyal voters for the Democratic party—we are key to igniting Black voters across all demographics to show up in record numbers. There has not been a Democratic presidential nominee in over 40 years that has won the White House without Black women’s leadership and vote—including President Barack Obama, President Bill Clinton, and President Jimmy Carter.

Therefore, we urge you to seize this historic opportunity to choose a Black woman running mate who will fight for the issues that matter most to the American people and help deliver a decisive victory and a successful Biden presidency.

Sincerely,

Ms. Katrina Adams,Yonkers, NY
Ms. Aimee Allison, Oakland, CA
Taryn E. Anthony, Alexandria, VA
Honorable Wandra Ashley-Williams, Owings Mills, MD
Delegate Vanessa E. Atterbeary, Fulton, MD
Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, Laurel MD
Ms. Miranda Askew-Brown, Syracuse, NY
Ms. Joy Atkinson, Los Angeles, CA
Ms. Shawn W. Ashworth, Ed.D., Pasadena, MD
State Senator Raumesh A. Akbari, Memphis, TN
Rev. Aundreia Alexander, Esq., Washington, DC
Ms. Bobbiejean Anderson, Los Angeles, CA
Ms. Estina Baker, Hackensack, NJ
Ms. Monifa Bandele, Brooklyn, NY
Mrs. Cora Masters Barry, Washington, DC
Lady Sharon J. Beard, Houston, TX
Honorable Gail Beatty, Kansas City, MO
Ms. Belinda Beeks, Sacramento, CA
Councilwoman Maria Begg-Roberson, Rutherford, NJ
Honorable Ashley Bennett, Egg Harbor, NJ
Dr. Carol J. Bennett, California
Dr. Arla J. Bentley, Glen Burnie, MD
Ms. Salandra Benton, Titusville, FL
Ms. Angelia Bibbs-Sanders, California
Rev Dr Myra Turner Billips, Somerset, NJ
Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, Washington, DC
Rev. Morine A. Bowen-Avery,
Ms. Cherolynn W. Blackwell, Davidsonville, MD
Rev. Anna C. Bradley, Chesterfield County, VA
Ms. Donna Brazile, Washington, DC
Rev. Valerie Bridgeman, Ph.D., Delaware, OH
Rev. Dr. Roslyn M. Brock, Upper Marlboro, MD
Councilwoman Edina Brown, Old Bridge, NJ
Ms. Clayola Brown, Washington, DC
Ms. Latosha Brown, Atlanta, GA
Ms. Taisha Brown, Los Angeles, CA
Ms. Helen Butler, Atlanta, GA
Senator Gloria Butler, Stone Mountain, GA
Ms. Debra Burris, Oklahoma City, OK
Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield, Indianapolis, IN
Ms. Kamaria Byrd, MA, Princeton, NJ
Ms. Melanie L. Campbell, Alexandria, VA
Honorable Karen D. Camper, Memphis, TN
Yolanda H. Caraway, Washington, DC
Ms. Pamela G. Carlton, New York, NY
Ms. Glynda C. Carr, Brooklyn, NY
Debra Martin Chase – California
Rev. Andrea Clark Chambers, Tulsa, OK
Rev. C. Jacqueiline Chaney, Philadelphia, PA
Councilwoman Brittany Claybrooks,
East Orange, NJ
Ms. Angela Bibbs-Sanders, CA
Ms. Delmarie Cobb, Chicago, IL
Ms. Alice D. Cole, Randallstown, MD
Dr. Johnetta Betsch Cole, Fernandina Beach, FL
Ms. Malaak Compton, Alpine, NJ
Ms. Cheryl Contee, CA
Ms Brittney Cooper, PhD, New Brunswick, NJ
Councilwoman Ruby Cotton, Paterson, NJ
Freeholder Tyshami Cooper, Essex County, NJ
Honorable Lisa A. Copeland, Mount Vernon, NY
Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, Silver Spring, MD
Ms. Diane Cottrell, Chicago, IL
Dr. Karen T. Craddock Ph.D., Boston, MA
Ms. Crystal D. Crawford, Esq., Los Angeles, CA
Rev. Dr. Erika D. Crawford, D.Min., Dover, DE
Ms. Sandra Crowder, Norfolk, VA
Honorable Mildred Crump, Newark, NJ
Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, MD
Senator Sandra B. Cunningham, Bayonne, NJ
Ms. Allora Goode Cyrus, Silver Spring, MD
Doris Ramseur Davis, Fayetteville, AR
Councilwoman Ashley Davis, Plainfield, NJ
Ms. Felicia Davis, Forest Park, GA
Ms. Kiahna W. Davis, Indianapolis, IN
Ms. Lisa E. Davis, South Orange, NJ
Marilyn D. Davis, Harrison, NJ
Rev. Dr. Karen S. Daughtry, NY
Bishop Leah D. Daughtry, Washington, DC
Rev. Dr. Dawnique Daughtry, Englewood, NJ
Ms. Sharon Daughtry, Brooklyn, NY
Pastor Kaji Dousa, New York, NY
Ms. LaDavia S. Drane, Esq., New Albany, OH
Ms. Hazel Dukes, New York, NY
Rev. Marcia Dyson, Washington, DC
Ms. Jotaka Eaddy, Washington, DC
Ms. Kimberly Ellis, JD, Richmond, CA
Ms. Lisa Fager, Odenton, MD
Ms. C. Virginia Fields, New York, NY
Ms. Karen Finney, Washington, DC
Ms. Meshelle Foreman, Baltimore, MD
Ms. Alexandria D. Forsh, Loganville, GA
Ms. Dianne Forsh, Loganville, GA
Ms. Lucille Frierson, MA, Charlotte, NC
Ms. Demetria Gallagher, Chicago, IL
Ms. Eboni Gates, Chicago, IL
Honorable Angela R. Garretson, MPA,
Hillside, NJ
Ms. V. E. Gaskins, Elizabeth, NJ
Ms. Glenda A. Gill, Los Angeles, CA
Senator Nia H. Gill, Esq., Montclair, NJ
Honorable Brenda Gilmore, Nashville, TN
Ms. Glenda Glover, Nashville, TN
Presiding Elder Elaine Gordon, Peoria, IL
Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould, St. Louis, MO
Ms. Alma Howard Graham, Woodland Hills, CA
Dr. Christina Greer, New York, NY
Rev. Brenda Grier-Miller, Oberlin, OH
Hon. Cheryl Gray Evans, New Orleans, LA
Rev. Ebony Grisom, Falls Church, VA
Councilwoman Susan Hairston, Summit, NJ
Honorable Laura Hall, Huntsville, AL
Rev Stacey Hamilton, Galloway, NJ
Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale, Conyers, GA
Ms. Diane M. Harley
Ms. Gwendolyn Hatten Butler, IL
Ms. LT Hilton, San Francisco, CA
Dr. Gayle Holliday, Kansas City, MO
Ms. Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, Brooklyn, NY
Councilwoman Alicia Holman, East Orange, NJ
Ms. Holli Holliday, Esq., Hyattsville, MD
Ms. Alice Huffman, CA
Ms. Ifeoma Ike, Brooklyn, NY
Ms. April Jackson, Atlanta, GA
Ms. Carolyn F. Jackson, MEd, Hiram, GA
Rev. Debora Jackson, DMin, Newton, MA
Ms. Latanya Richardson Jackson,
Beverly Hills, CA
Ms. Letetia Daniels Jackson, Dothan, AL
Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey,
South Orange, NJ
Reverend Melanie C. Jones, Richmond, VA
Ms. Ricarra Jones, MPA, Baltimore, MD
Ms. Star Jones, Esq., Chicago, IL
Ms. Tonia Jones Powell, Esq., Upper
Marlboro, MD
The Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson,
Brooklyn, NY
Honorable Arthenia L. Joyner, Tampa, FL
Councilwoman Deborah Keeling-Geddis, Hackensack, NJ
Ms. Andrea Lawrence-Hyatt, CPM, Hillside, NJ
Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, PhD,
Washington, DC
Dr. Deborah LeBlanc, Los Angeles, CA
Ms. Debra L. Lee, Los Angeles, California
Dr. Leone R. Lettsome, Raleigh, NC
Councilwoman Amy Lewis, East Orange, NJ
Mrs. Catherine Lewis, Columbia, SC
Dr. L. Toni Lewis, MD, Brooklyn, CA
Honorable Reta Jo Lewis, Esq., Washington, DC
Ms. Jeanine Liburd, NY
Ms. Erika F. Liles, NJ
Ms. Amanda Brown Lierman, Silver Spring, MD
Ms. Lillian M Long, Upper Marlboro, MD
Ms. Michele Renee Long, Esq., Upper
Marlboro, MD
Ms. Tamika Mallory, Brooklyn, NY
Ms. Arletha Manlove, Kansas City, MO
Ms. Ann Walker Marchant, Palm Beach, FL
The Rev. Eboni Marshall Turman, Ph.D., NY, NY
Rev. Angelique J. Mason, Baltimore, MD
Ms. Dee Marshall, Newark, NJ
Ms. Terri Massie-Burrell, PhD
Ms. Janice L. Mathis, Esq., Temple Hills, MD
Ms. Onida Coward Mayers, New York, NY
Ms. Colette McCurdy-Jackson, Miami, FL
Ms. Tina McKinnor, California
Rev. Dr. Della McKinnon, Raleigh, NC
Ms. Nina F. Miles Everett, M.D, FACP,
Crofton, MD
Ms. Gloria Mitchell, California
Honorable Joylette Mills-Ransome,
Plainfield, NH
Councilwoman-at-Large Dr. Lilisa Mimms, Paterson, NJ
Rev. Dr. Judith C. Moore, New Kensington, PA
Ms. Minyon Moore, Washington, DC
Rev. Anna E. Mosby, Upper Marlboro, MD
Honorable Sheila Oliver, New Jersey
Ms. Eva Paterson, Attorney-at-Law, Oakland, CA
Honorable Shawyn Patterson Howard, Mount Vernon, NY
Ms. Kimberly Peeler-Allen, Brooklyn, NY
Ms. Barbara A Perkins, Atlanta, GA
Mayor Pat Perkins-Auguste, Elizabeth, NJ
Ms. Aretha Perry, Glen Burnie, MD
Dr. Joia Crear-Perry, MD, New Orleans, LA
Rev. Francine C. Pearce, Augusta, GA
Rev. Zina Pierre, Annapolis, MD
Dr. Holly L. Phillips, MD, New York, NY
Dr. Melanye Price, Houston, TX
Ms. Jonelle Procope, New York, NY
Ms. Tameka M. Ramsey, MPA, BSW, Pontiac, MI
Ms. Darlene Robinson, Eutaw, Alabama
Honorable Dana L. Redd, Camden, New Jersey
Ms. Rene Redwood, Washington, DC
Ms. Angela J. Reddock-Wright, Esq.,
Los Angeles, CA
Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson, Trenton, NJ
Ms. Sandy Reynolds, CFA, Chicago, IL
Ms. Kimberly Y. Robinson, Esq.,
Owings Mills, MD
Honorable Gervonn C. Romney Rice,
Teaneck, NJ
Honorable Denise Ridley, Jersey City, NJ
Ms. Darlene Robinson, Eutaw, AL
Ms. Natasha Love Rogers, Newark, NJ
Reverend Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D.,
Washington, DC
Rev. Dawn Sanders, Alexandria, VA
Ms. Deborah Scott, Atlanta, GA
Dr. Elsie Scott, Ph.D., Washington, DC
Representative Kim Schofield, College Park, GA
Ms. Lateefah Simon, Oakland, CA
Ms. Kenosha N. Skinner, Phoenix, AZ
Ms. Marva A. Smalls, Charleston, South Carolina
Ms. Beverly E. Smith, Atlanta, GA
Ms. Eula A. Smith, California
Dr. Marcella K. Smith, EdD
Rev. Dr. Susan K. Smith, Columbus, OH
Honorable Stephanie M. Smith, Baltimore, MD
Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, Newark, NJ
Ms. Kathleen Spencer-Christy, PhD.,
Salt Lake City, UT
Honorable Andrea Staten, Roselle, NJ
Ms. Bonita C. Stewart, Englewood, NJ
Rev. Dr. Gina M. Stewart, Memphis, TN
Honorable Shavonda E. Sumter, Paterson, NJ
Ms. Pierrette “Petee” Talley, Toledo, OH
Ms. Joycelyn Tate, JD, Washington, DC
Dr. Janet Taylor, MD, MPH, FL
Ms. Pamela A. Taylor, MEd, Boston, MA
Ms Susan L. Taylor, New York, NY
Ms. Deborah H. Telman, IL
Assemblywoman Britnee N. Timberlake,
Orange, NJ
Rev. Dr. Regena L. Thomas, Hamilton, NJ
Ms. Belinda Todd, Petersburg, VA
Ms. Kellie Todd Griffin, Long Beach, CA
Dr. Emilie M. Townes, Nashville, TN
Assemblywoman Cleopatra G. Tucker,
Newark, NJ
Ms. Ingrid Tucker, Boston, MA
Ms. Tamara Tunie, New York, NY
Pastor Cynthia Turner Wood, Lanham MD
Commissioner Sheila Tyson, Birmingham, AL
Ms. Tonya Tyson, Upper Marlboro, MD
Ms. Letisa Vereen, Washington, DC
Mayor Dahlia O. Vertreese, Hillside, NJ
Dr. Celestine Villa Ed.D
Honorable Barbara A. Wallace, Sewell,
New Jersey
Councilwoman Tamika Garrett Ward,
East Orange, NJ
State Representative Barbara Washington, Kansas City, MO
Honorable Courtney A. Washington, Roselle, NJ
Ms. Pauletta Washington, Beverly Hills, CA
Ms. A. Shuanise Washington, MD
Rev. Melinda Weekes-Laidlow, Atlanta, GA
Ms. Yvonne Francois Wheeler, Los Angeles, CA
Ms. Dorothy M. White, Chicago, IL
Ms. Sandra C. Wiggins, Fayetteville, NY
Honorable Rebecca Williams, Union, NJ
Ms. L. Joy Williams, Brooklyn, NY
Ms. Tanya Young Williams, Boca Raton, FL
Ms. Tonya Y. Williams, Scotch Plains, NJ
Ms. Wanda J. Williams
Ms. Vanessa Williams, Chappaqua, NY
Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, Washington, DC
Ms .Gail Willis, Los Angeles, CA
Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins, Silver Spring, MD
Ms. Dolores M. Wilson, Clifton Park, NY
Ms. Jamia Wilson, New York, NY
Mrs. Drema Lee Woldman, Lynwood, IL
Updated 4/24 @ 6:30 pm EST
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