What Does a Record Number of Black Candidates Really Mean for Republicans?

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The Republican party is not known for ethnic diversity, but this year, 22 Black candidates are running for Republican House seats. And for the first time, we could see two Black Republican senators serving simultaneously. The historically diverse lineup also includes Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans on Republican tickets for the midterms.

Some in the party are hopeful that Ronald Regan's vision of the party as an inclusive "Big Tent '' may be on the horizon. But those who study race and politics say that the GOP's poor record on race and outright racist remarks from high-profile Republicans - like recent comments by Senator Tommy Tuberville -continue to keep Black voters away - even those who consider themselves conservative.

Host Michel Martin talks to Theodore Johnson, a researcher, and writer whose work focuses on how race plays out in politics and policy.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

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This episode was produced by Tyler Bartlam. It was edited by Jeanette Woods. Our executive producer is Natalie Winston.