Progressive House candidate responds to criticism over past comments about Black Dems

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William Lawrence, a progressive running in the Democratic primary for the U.S. House in Michigan, is responding to backlash over his previous criticism of Black political leaders.

The Huffington Post on Saturday published Lawrence’s comments from a 2024 episode of his podcast, in which the Democrat accused some Black lawmakers of being “a pillar, frankly, for establishment, capitalist, imperialist American power.”

“It’s a big problem for left politics in this country, and it gets us every single time,” Lawrence said in the episode. “It really defangs the white left and puts us in impossible positions, really.”

The Democratic candidate addressed this comment in a social media statement on Saturday, saying his words were “taken out of context.”

“The way I made this point was clumsy, and I regret my choice of words,” he said. “I understand the potential impact when received out of context. The way the story is being reported does not reflect my beliefs.”

He noted that this comment was made during a conversation with a Black anti-war organizer in reaction to Democratic leaders’ support for aid to Israel during the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Lawrence has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and other Democratic lawmakers.

He is running in the Democratic primary against Matt Maasdam, a former Navy SEAL endorsed by several local unions, and Bridget Brink, the former Ambassador to Ukraine under President Biden.

The winner of the primary, which will be held on Aug. 4, will face incumbent GOP Rep. Tom Barret in November. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates Michigan’s 7th congressional district as a toss-up this cycle.

In his Saturday statement, the progressive candidate said he has been “deeply inspired by the Black liberation struggle.”

“That said, national elected leaders across race, ethnicity, age and gender have been supporters of unnecessary US wars,” he wrote. “This poses a challenge to the anti-war movement.”

“Americans of all races and ages must work together to advance peace,” Lawrence continued. “Until we do, our resources will go to fund war and genocide abroad, rather than investing in affordable housing and healthcare, or closing the racial wealth gap.”

Lawrence pledged to “work closely with Black community leaders, and all people, to set our priorities straight” if elected.

The backlash over Lawrence’s comments follows a series of controversies tied to democratic socialist and progressive candidates running this midterm cycle.

Graham Platner, the Maine Senate candidate who faced a criticism about his past social media posts about Black people and women and a tattoo resembling a Nazi insignia, dropped out of his race this week after a new allegation of sexual assault emerged. Platner has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing related to this new accusation.

Stephen A. Smith, a political commentator, warned earlier this month that the rise in democratic socialist and populist candidates “could ultimately spell doom for the Democratic Party” at the ballot box this November.

“You can beat Trump. You can beat any of his successors. But in order to do so, you‘re going to have to come together as a party under one umbrella,” Smith told CNN, adding that the party “can’t be at the mercy of those on the extreme left.”

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Bernie Sanders

Jamie Raskin

Joe Biden

Maxwell Frost

Pramila Jayapal

Stephen A. Smith

Tom Barrett

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