>> CROSSLEY: WELCOME TO "BASIC BLACK."

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR BROADCAST AND OTHERS OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS.

I'M CALLIE CROSSLEY, HOST OF UNDER THE RADAR, 89.7.

TONIGHT: THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS.

A BIG VICTORY FOR MASSACHUSETTS' WOMEN CANDIDATES IN A NEAR SWEEP OF THE STATE'S TOP CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES INCLUDING MAURA HEALEY'S HISTORIC WIN AS THE FIRST OPENLY LESBIAN GOVERNOR-ELECT.

THAT INCLUDES A GLASS CEILING-BREAKING TRIUMPH FOR FORMER BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR ANDREA CAMPBELL, NOW ATTORNEY GENERAL ELECT, WHO IS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN ELECTED STATEWIDE.

PLUS, LATINO POLITICAL POWER GROWS STRONGER AS MORE LATINOS GAIN SEATS IN THE STATEHOUSE.

THE PREDICTED CONSERVATIVE RED WAVE DID NOT HAPPEN, BUT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF REPUBLICAN ELECTION DENIERS ARE HEADED TO CONGRESS.

WHAT DO THESE ELECTION RESULTS MEAN FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

JOINING US THIS EVENING: TANISHA SULLIVAN ESQ., PRESIDENT, N.A.A.C.P.

BOSTON BRANCH.

SHE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE GBH BOARD OF ADVISORS.

SHE ALSO RAN IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR MASSACHUSETTS SECRETARY OF STATE.

RAHSAAN HALL, PRINCIPAL, RAHSAAN HALL CONSULTING AND FORMER DIRECTOR, RACIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM, A.C.L.U.

OF MASSACHUSETTS.

HE ALSO RAN FOR PLYMOUTH COUNTY D.A.

DURING THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

DR. PAUL WATANABE, PROFESSOR, POLITICAL SCIENCE AND DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON.

AND JOINING US REMOTELY, DR. TATISHE NTETA, PROVOST PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, UMASS AMHERST AND DIRECTOR OF UMASS POLL.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU.

DR. WATANABE, WHAT ARE THE TAKEAWAYS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, WITH A COLOR FOCUS.

>> THE ENTIRE ELECTION IS REFLECTED IN THESE RESULTS.

WE ARE REALLY A COUNTRY FOCUSED ON ISSUES OF RACE SO IT'S APPROPRIATE WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

IT'S SEEMINGLY ABOUT INFLATION, BUT THOSE ARE FUNDAMENTALLY A COVER FOR ISSUES ABOUT RACE AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THIS COUNTRY.

I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE ABLE TO DO SO WELL IS UNFORTUNATE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT MUCH OF THE ANALYSIS OF WHY THE REPUBLICANS ARE ABLE TO DO SO WELL IS THEY RAISE ISSUES, TRADITIONAL ONES, OF CRIME AND SO FORTH AS THE ISSUE, AND CRIME IS NOTHING MORE THAN SORT OF A FIG LEAF TO COVER A FOCUS ON RACE, THE GRAINY PICTURES OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE DOING CRIMES, HITTING PEOPLE OR COMING ACROSS THE BORDER COMMITTING CRIMES OR PULLED OUT AT THE FINAL STAGES AND THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE FUNDAMENTAL, I THINK, TO THE APPEAL OF A POPULATION, PARTICULARLY A WHITE POPULATION THAT IN SOME RESPECTS CANNOT ADJUST TO THE TRANSFORMATION THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE COUNTRY.

SO IN SOME WAYS I THINK THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE BUT I THINK THEY'RE NOT MUCH BETTER IN TERMS OF THE POLARIZATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE IT CONTINUE CLEARLY AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND PERHAPS LONGER.

>> Crossley: DR. TATISHE NTETA, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

TAKEAWAYS NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY.

>> NATIONALLY THE CENTRAL TAKEAWAY IS THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DID NOT LOSE A NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND POTENTIALLY COULD RETAIN CONTROL OF THE U.S. SENATE.

THIS GOES AGAINST HISTORY.

IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS IN A PRESIDENT'S FIRST TERM, THEY TEND TO LOSE LARGE NUMBERS OF SEATS IN THE HOUSE, SO BARACK OBAMA LOST 60 SEATS IN HIS FIRST MIDTERM ELECTION, AND JOE BIDEN, YOU KNOW, MIGHT LOSE LESS THAN TEN SEATS.

I MEAN, THIS IS RIDICULOUS IN TERMS OF THE EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAD FOR A RED WAVE OR RED TSUNAMI.

AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, I THINK THE ESSENTIAL TAKEAWAY HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS IS THAT DIVERSITY IS COMING TO OUR STATE LEADERS.

SO FIVE OF THE SIX STATEWIDE OFFICES WILL BE HELD BY WOMEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

A WOMAN WAS POPULARLY ELECTED GOVERNOR.

WE HAVE, AGAIN, A WOMAN WHO'S GOING TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL, A WOMAN WHO'S GOING TO BE AUDITOR AND TREASURER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

SO, AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING THE DIVERSITY COMING TO FRUITION HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH, AND, SO, I THINK THESE ARE THE TWO MAJOR STORIES THAT MARK THE ELECTIONS OF THIS PAST WEEK.

>> Crossley: TANISHA SULLIVAN, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, LAST YEAR BLACK WOMEN HELD 1.9% OF STATEWIDE EXECUTIVE OFFICES.

ONLY 17 WOMEN HAVE EVER HELD STATEWIDE OFFICES.

HAD YOU WON SECRETARY OF STATE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN 18, WHICH SOUNDS CRAZY, BUT HERE WE ARE.

THAT SPEAKS WITH THE STATE OF BEING ELECTED STATEWIDE AND THE AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT OF ANDREA CAMPBELL TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE IT IS JUST TOUGH.

>> YEAH, LOOK, I AM EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN THIS CYCLE BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

WE HAVE, ARGUABLY, THE MOST DIVERSE FIELD OF CANDIDATES THIS CYCLE, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN.

IT SPEAKS TO, I BELIEVE, A MOMENT IN TIME WHERE MORE OF US ARE SEEING OURSELVES IN THESE ROLES AND GOING FOR IT.

THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS SOMETHING TO SEPARATE.

ORGANIZES LIKE HIGHER HEIGHTS, COLLECTIVE PAC, EMERGE U.S., ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO LIFT UP WOMEN AND ENCOURAGING WOMEN TO RUN ARE ORGANIZATIONS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.

THAT SAID, CHALLENGES STILL REMAIN.

CHALLENGES STILL REMAIN IN TERMS OF MORE WOMEN RUNNING, YES, BUT RUNNING AND WINNING.

HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, I DO WANT TO ALSO LIFT UP, ONCE AGAIN, THE HISTORIC FIRSTS FROM A DIVERSITY STOIPT, REPRESENTATION ALSO MATTERS -- STANDPOINT, REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

HAVING ANDREA CAMPBELL IN THE AG'S OFFICE, HAVING KIM DRISCOLL WHOSE MOM IS TRINIDADIAN IN THE L.T.

'S OFFICE, HAVING MAURA HEALEY IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THAT MATTERS.

FROM A DIVERSITY STANDPOINT, WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IS AN IMPACT THAT HAS IN A LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNING STANDPOINT.

WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR THE ISSUES THAT THEY WILL PRIORITIZE AND CHAMPION?

WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH?

>> ALL RIGHT, RAHSAAN HALL, I WANT YOU TO REFLECT THROUGH YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE AND THINKING ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THIS ELECTION AND HOW IT PLAYED OUT FOR YOU, SOME OF THE THEMES THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

>> SURE.

THERE'S THIS PHRASE THAT I LIKE TO USE CALLED LIBERAL EXCEPTIONALISM WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS BECAUSE WE THINK THAT WE'RE A VERY PROGRESSIVE STATE, BUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD RUNNING FOR PLYMOUTH COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY I THINK SHOULD DISAVIEW PEOPLE OF THAT IDEA BECAUSE MAURA HEALEY AND DIANA DIZOGLIO AND ANDREA CAMPBELL DID WELL IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

THERE WAS A PRIT TICKET AND I WAS RUNNING RUN ON A CONSERVATIVE PLATFORM.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE CANDIDATES, THE TOP OF THE TICKET, THEY WERE ALL FAIRLY CENTRISTS, RELATIVELY MODERATE.

THEY WEREN'T RUNNING AS PROGRESSIVES.

SO TO THE EXTENT THAT PEOPLE THINK MASSACHUSETTS IS THIS PROGRESSIVE STATE, WE'RE REALLY NOT.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER RACES LIKE THE BARNSTABLE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR SUFFOLK COUNTY RACES, ALL THOSE COUNTIES WHO PREVAILED WERE CENTRIST OR EVEN RIGHT LEANING.

SO I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE CANDIDATES OF COLOR AND MORE WOMEN, PEOPLE FROM THE LGBTQIA + COMMUNITY RUNNING FOR THE POSITIONS BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY TOOK PRIDE IN WAS HOW WE SHIFTED THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT COULD BE POSSIBLE AND CONNECTED WITH A LOT MORE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THE COMMONWEALTH WITH THESE OTHER RACES.

>> Crossley: SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES OF FOLKS OF COLOR, BLACK WOMEN RUNNING STATEWIDE.

DID THAT EXIST COUNTYWIDE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WAS RUNNING IN A COUNTY 83% WHITE.

SO ONCE WE STEPPED OUTSIDE OF BROCKTON AND GOT INTO KINGSTON AND HALIFAX AND PLACES LIKE THAT, IT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE, AND ALTHOUGH THERE WERE INDIVIDUALS WE MET WHO WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEEL WE WEREN'T ABLE TO CONNECT WITH OR GET IN FRONT OF, AND IF THE ONLY THING WE'RE SEEING IS A BLACK GUY WHO'S A PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTOR, THAT SHUTS THAT ENTIRE CONVERSATION DOWN.

SIMILARLY, WHEN TANISHA CAME TO PLYMOUTH COUNTY IT WOULD BE LIKE THE TWO OF US AND ANDREA WOULD SHOW UP AND YOU WOULD LOOK OUT AND WE WERE ALL THERE WERE.

SO THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT BLACK FACES SHOWING UP IN WHITE SPACES.

IT'S GOOD AND IMPORTANT, BUT WHEN THE POLITICS ARE FURTHER LEFT, ESPECIALLY IN PLACES LIKE THIS, IT'S GOING TO BE HARDER TO GET SOME TRACTION.

NOT TO SAY IT CAN'T HAPPEN, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT TO WORK.

>> Crossley: TATISHE, THERE APPEARED TO BE FOLKS THAT SAID I'M GOING TO SUPPORT SOME DEMOCRATS THAT MAY NOT NORMALLY I WOULD SUPPORT BECAUSE I'M AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN, FRANKLY, CONSTITUTIONALLY, SMALL "D" DEMOCRATICALLY.

AND THEN ON SOME OF THE OTHER RACES, I'M GOING TO GO MY NORMAL REPUBLICAN OR WHATEVER.

SO THAT EXPLAINS, SOME SAY, BUT YOU'RE THE PERSON THAT'S ANALYZING THIS, WHY THIS WAS A BIT OF A SURPRISE AS TO HOW SOME OF THE RESULTS ARE SHAKING OUT DO YOU FEEL AGREE?

>> I THINK IT'S A REFLECTION IN LARGE PART ABOUT THE QUALITY OF CANDIDATES.

WHAT WE KNOW AWE CROSS HOUSE, SENATE, GUBERNATORIAL RACES AND RACES DOWN THE STATEWIDE BALLOT, PARTICULARLY SECRETARY OF STATE RACES, IS THAT THE MAGA SIDE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PUT FORWARD A KNURL OF CANDIDATE THAT WERE FAR TO THE RIGHT IDEOLOGICALLY, AND SUPPORTED FALSEHOODS LIKE THE 2020 ELECTION BEING ILLEGITIMATE, AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, I THINK, EFFECTIVELY SPOKE TO ISSUES OF THE HEALTH OF THE DEMOCRACY, AND MOBILIZED INDIVIDUALS TO VOTE BASED ON THESE FEARS AND CONCERNS, AND THAT ASSOCIATED WITH OUR EXAMPLE OR AT LEAST THE DOBBS DECISION, DEMONSTRATING THE POWER OF, YOU KNOW, CONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGY TO GO AGAINST PUBLIC OPINION, TO GO AGAINST, IN SOME WAYS, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AS IT PERTAINS TO A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

SO I THINK ALL THESE FACTORS PLAYED A ROLE IN LEADING INDIVIDUALS TO NOT NECESSARILY VOTE SOLELY ON THEIR PARTISAN IDENTITY, BUT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES AND TO LOOK FORWARD TO SEE HOW THESE CANDIDATES MAY GOVERN, AND IT GAVE PEOPLE PAUSE, AND THAT PAUSE WAS REFLECTED IN THE VOTE THAT THEY MADE.

>> Crossley: SO WHILE WE HAVE BAD NEWS, WHAT IS INTERESTING, ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE SAW A LOT OF FOLKS OF COLOR RUNNING, AND THOUGH WE CAN NAME SOME OF THE ONES THAT LOST, THERE WERE SOME BIG WINS.

AN HISTORIC WIN, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE WES MOORE WILL BECOME THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

THE MILITARY VETERAN AND RHODES SCHOLAR WILL BE THE FIRST BLACK GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND, AND THE THIRD BLACK PERSON ELECTED GOVERNOR IN U.S. HISTORY.

HERE IS WHAT HE SAID TO HIS SUPPORTERS.

>> YOU ALL WORKED, YOU WORKED AND YOU TOOK THIS ELECTION PERSONALLY.

PERSONALLY.

AND I AM SO GRATEFUL BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED.

YOU BELIEVED AT A TIME WHEN SOMETIMES BELIEVING ISN'T EASY.

>> Crossley: SO, DR. WATANABE, PUT HIS WIN -- AND THERE'S A FEW MORE I'LL MENTION AFTER YOU SPEAK -- IN CONTEXT WITH THESE OTHER BIG LOSSES.

HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE.

>> YES, THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR ON THE BALLOT, BOTH ON DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN BALLOTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT, AND YOU HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT WINS LIKE HIS AND SIKES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN OHIO WON TIM BRIAN'S SEAT, AND THE YOUNGEST MAN EVER TO BE APPOINTED TO THE -- >> Crossley: MAXWELL FROST.

-- MAXWELL FROST IN FLORIDA, SO YOU HAD SOME OF THOSE VICTORIES.

BUT YOU HAD OTHER SITUATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE YOU HAD STACEY ABRAMS LOSING BIG TIME.

>> Crossley: AS GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA, SHE LOST.

>> YOU HAD THE SITUATION IN THE SENATE RACE IN GEORGIA WHERE MR. WARNOCK WAS ON A PAR WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS, IN MY VIEW, ENTIRELY INCAPABLE OR UNQUALIFIED FOR THAT JOB.

SO YOU HAD VAL DEMIES LOSING BIGTIME IN FLORIDA.

YOU HAD VICTORIES AND LOSSES, AND I AGREE IT'S NOT JUST WHEN SOMEBODY IS A PERSON OF COLOR, IT'S WHAT THEY STAND FOR.

THAT'S WHAT THE LOSS OF RAHSAAN AND TANISHA DID, THEY STOOD FOR SOMETHING.

TO ME, IT'S THE REJECTION OF THE POLICIES THEY REPRESENT.

I THINK STACEY ABRAMS, FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE ARE REFERRING TO HER ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AS THIS LOSER, AND I THINK OF HER -- AND WE WERE TALKING A MOMENT AGO -- I THINK YOU WERE LIKE MY MOTHER WHO USED TO BE THE PERSON WHO PREPARED THE MEALS FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND WE ALL SAT DOWN AND ATE THEM AND SHE SORT OF STOOD IN THE CORNER AND WATCHED EVERYBODY EAT THE MEAL.

THAT'S SORT OF STACEY ABRAMS.

SHE SET THE TABLE FOR THE RAPHAEL WARNOCKS TO COMPETE AND SHE SITS ON THE SIDE AND DOESN'T GET TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEAL HERSELF.

IT'S THOSE SORTS OF PEOPLE, I THINK THE REJECTION OF THOSE PEOPLE IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE OPPOSITION THEY'RE RECEIVING IS A LITTLE DISCONCERTING TO ME, I THINK.

>> Crossley: I DO WANT TO SAY WITH REGARD TO WESTMORE, IF YOU THINK YOU'VE HEARD HIS NAME, YOU HAVE, HE WROTE A BEST SELLER CALLED "THE OTHER WESTMORE" WHICH TIES INTO HIS RUN.

HIS BOOK WAS ABOUT THE DISPARITIES THAT OFTEN HAPPEN TO M.L.K.

FOLKS BECAUSE THE ESSENCE OF HIS BOOK IS HE WAS MISTAKEN FOR SOMEBODY WHO ALSO WAS NAMED WESTMORE IN JAIL AND HE DID A WHOLE THING COMPARING WHAT HIS LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE, HOW EASILY IT COULD BE THE CRIME ISSUE HAS COME UP VERY STRONGLY AS HE RAN, SO THERE'S THAT.

SO I WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE TABLE.

HE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS AND SAID, WHAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT STATEWIDE AND COUNTYWIDE, IS THEY WON IN EVERY SECTOR OF MARYLAND, WHICH WAS A SHOCK TO HIM, RURAL AND URBAN AND ALL OF THESE OTHER PLACES, AND HE ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE FOLKS WERE JUST TIRED OF REALLY NOT GETTING, TO YOUR POINT, PAUL, SOMEBODY THAT FELT VERY COMMITTED TO WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT AND HAD LIVED SOME OF THE EXPERIENCE, WHO'S NOT AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT HOW CRIME SHOULD BE ADDRESSED, AS HE SAYS, STATEWIDE AND WITH SOME POLICIES THAT MAKE SENSE.

WE CAN'T, HE SAID, IN THE QUOTE, ARREST OR MILITARIZE OURSELVES OUT OF THIS PROBLEM.

SO THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING THING.

I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS ARONA MILLER WHO IS ASIAN-AMERICAN.

SO LET ME SWITCH TO TALK ABOUT THESE AMAZING WINS ABOUT FOLKS OF COLOR, HIGH NUMBER OF LATINOS, SOME REPUBLICAN TO YOUR POINT, PAUL.

TATISHE, HOW DO YOU LOOK AT THE HIGH NUMBERS OF REPUBLICANS.

THERE'S A MEXICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN IN FLORIDA WHO ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WON, THERE ARE LATINOS ACROSS THE STATE, WE HAVE ALEX PADILLA, FORMALLY ELECTED TO THE SEAT HE HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO IN CALIFORNIA.

BY THE WAY, MAXWELL FROST CONSIDERS HIMSELF AFRO-CUBAN.

AN INTERESTING MIX OF SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO WON.

HOW DO YOU SEE THEM IN THE CONTEXT OF WHERE BLACK FOUL FOLK ARE IN TERMS OF IMPACT.

>> I THINK IT'S A REFLECTION OF THETHE DIVERSIFICATION OF THE NATION.

WE'RE SEEING A DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE REFLECTED IN THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

IT'S IN SOME WAYS A REFLECTION OF WHAT BEING AN AMERICAN IS GOING TO BE GOING FORWARD, AND SORT OF THE DIVERSITY, THE RACIAL DIVERSITY, THE ETHNIC DIVERSITY THAT THAT WILL ENTAIL.

BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO A REFLECTION, AND WE'VE SAID IT PREVIOUSLY, OF GRASSROOTS EFFORTS AT, YOU KNOW, MOBILIZING INDIVIDUALS TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

SO, IN THE PAST, THESE POSITIONS WERE VIEWED PRIMARILY AS POSITIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHITE MEN CAN POSSESS, BUT, YOU KNOW, INTEREST GROUPS AT ALL LEVELS HAVE FOUND INDIVIDUALS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND PUT THEM FORTH, AND THEY HAVE RESONATED WITH AN INCREASELY DIVERSE CONSTITUENCY AND ELECTORATE, AND WE'RE SEEING AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF HIGHLY DIVERSE SLATE OF CANDIDATES AND HIGHLY DIVERSE SLATE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WELL.

>> Crossley: NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, RAHSAAN AND TANISHA, I THINK THIS IS ONGOING TENSION -- I THINK THERE'S SOME ACCEPTANCE OF VOTERS THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC AND FOLK LOOK DIFFERENT, AND I AM SUPPORTING THEM.

BUT THERE IS ALSO A VERY STRONG REJECTION WHICH YOU FELT ALONG RACIAL LINES.

HOW DO YOU ASSESS WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF LOSSES AND WINS AND JUST NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE I LOOK AT THE RACE BEFORE MINE, IN 2018, WHERE THE THE INCUMBENT HAD A CHALLENGER WHO RAN A MUCH LESS EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGN THAN I DID BUT STILL GOT A GREATER NUMBER OF VOTES, AND, SO, IT'S HARD.

HE ADMITTEDLY RAN AS MORE OF A CENTRIST PROSECUTOR AS OPPOSED TO MYSELF, WHO WAS PUSHING SOME PRETTY PROGRESSIVE IDEAS IN PROSECUTION, BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE ROLE THAT RACE PLAYED IN MY CAMPAIGN.

THERE WAS SOMEBODY WHO SENT ME AN EMAIL WHEN WE MADE OUR CAMPAIGN VIDEO AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I REALLY LIKE RAHSAAN AND I WANT TO SEE HIM WIN, BUT HIS VIDEO HAS TOO MANY BLACK PEOPLE IN IT.

I WAS, LIKE, DUDE, THAT'S MY FAMILY.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

I'M GETTING RID OF ME AND MY MOMMA AND WIFE AND FATHER, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?

BUT THAT'S PART OF THE REALITY, AND, YOU KNOW, GIVING A PRESENTATION, TALKING ABOUT THE RACIAL DISPARITIES OR MY EXPERIENCE AS A BLACK MAN GROWING UP TO A GROUP OF SENIORS AND SOMEBODY COMING UP AFTERWARD AND SAYING, I REALLY LIKED EVERYTHING YOU HAD TO SAY BUT ONE SUGGESTION -- I'M LIKE, YEAH -- YOU TALK ABOUT RACE A LOT, AND, SO, IT'S DIFFICULT IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO CONTEMPLATE OR CONSIDER RACE IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE ME OR THE AFTERNOONA TO SHOW UP AND PUT THESE ISSUES FRONT AND CENTER AND MAKES THEM FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

I WAS AS A DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE MEETING AND QUESTIONING WHETHER THE AFTERNOONA WAS TOO POLARIZING.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

SHE'S A BLACK WOMAN WHO'S STRONG AND INTELLIGENT AND CAN TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH A LEVEL OF COMMAND THAT MAKES THEM UNCOMFORTABLE AND NOW SHE'S POLARIZING.

SO RACE IS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR, PARTICULARLY IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, BUT ALSO IN THE STATE, WHERE YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF DIVERSITY.

>> Crossley: THE TANISHA.

I WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT.

THE WAY I ANALYZE IT HAS TO DO WITH UNCONSCIOUS BIAS, AND RAHSAAN TOUCHED ON IT EARLIER WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY GET TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE PLATFORMS, WHO WE ARE AS PEOPLE IN OUR PLATFORMS.

I REMEMBER BEING IN WALTHAM AND RUNNING INTO AN OLDER WHITE MAN WHO WAS VERY DISMISSIVE IMMEDIATELY.

HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN COMMON.

AND I REMEMBER SAYING TO HIM, YOU KNOW, FREEDOM TO VOTE, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY.

HE SAID, THAT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.

I SAID, WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

AND OFTENTIMES, WHEN IT COMES TO CANDIDATE WHO ARE -- WHO LOOK DIFFERENT, WHO ARE NOT WHITE MEN, WE ARE BATTLING WITH THE UNCONSCIOUS BIAS THAT HAS PEOPLE MAKING A ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT OUR POLICY POSITIONS ARE BEFORE WE CAN EVEN OPEN OUR MOUTHS.

SO WHAT MATTERS THEN THERE IS THE FINANCING AND THE RESOURCING, RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW -- I'M NOT PREPARED TO ACCEPT, AT THIS POINT, THAT VOTERS IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY AREN'T READY TO RECLAIM THE SPIRIT OF JUSTICE.

I'M NOT READY TO ACCEPT THAT VOTERS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS DON'T WANT TO HAVE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE ELECTIONS, BUT WHAT I DO KNOW TO BE TRUE, FROM MY EXPERIENCE, IS THAT OUR ABOUT TO REACH PEOPLE, WHICH DOES REQUIRE RESOURCING, IS LIMITED.

AND, SO, YOU HAVE A CANDIDATE LIKE ANDREA, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO ACCEPT AND ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, RAHSAAN AND I ARE BOTH FIRSTTIME CANDIDATES.

ANDREA HAS RUN MULTIPLE ELECTIONS, HAD INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, AND WAS ABLE TO, OUT THE GATE, HAVE A FINANCE MACHINE THAT ALLOWED HER TO INTRODUCE HERSELF AND DISARM, IN SOME RESPECTS, SO THAT SHE WAS THEN ABLE TO SHARE HER MESSAGE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS ABOUT HOW ACCESSIBLE OUR ELECTIONS ARE FOR VOTERS AND ALSO CANDIDATES.

I HAVE TO SAY THIS PIECE HERE ABOUT OUR ELECTORATE IN MASSACHUSETTS -- 60% OF MASSACHUSETTS VOTERS ARE UNENROLLED.

>> Crossley: THAT'S RIGHT.

AND I THINK WHAT WE SAW HERE IN THIS ELECTION WITH THE ELECTION OF A FAIRLY MODERATE STATEWIDE OFFICE SLATE, BUT THEN YOU JUXTAPOSE THAT AGAINST QUESTION ONE AND QUESTION FOUR.

>> Crossley: RIGHT, YES.

RIGHT.

AND, SO, WE DO HAVE HERE AN ELECTORATE THAT IS READY TO BE MORE CARING FOR THE WHOLE, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT QUESTION ONE AND WE THINK ABOUT QUESTION FOUR, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE AN ELECTORATE THAT IS A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE UNKNOWN.

>> Crossley: RIGHT.

I'VE GOT SECONDS HERE FOR PAUL AND TATISHE.

SO PAUL.

>> WELL, I THINK ABOUT THESE TWO PEOPLE HERE, RAHSAAN AND TANISHA, IF THEY WERE RUNNING IN GEORGIA OR TEXAS OR FLORIDA, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE HERE, THEY'RE VERY RESPECTABLE AND SO FORTH, I WOULD IMAGINE THE AD CAMPAIGNS, THEY WOULD HAVE PICTURES OF RAHSAAN THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE HIM, HE WOULD LOOK LIKE SOME CRIMINAL OR SOME SORT, AND TANISHA, THIS BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, WOULD LOOK LIKE SHE'S SOME THREAT, AND THAT'S THE NOTION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO REDUCE THEMSELVES TO THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL NOTION, AND THAT'S THE FEAR PEOPLE CAN POSE BEFORE YOU GET TO THEIR IDEAS AND THE DISCUSSION OF THEM, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO A CONSIDERABLE DEGREE IN THIS ELECTION AND CONTINUE AND WILL CONTINUE INTO THE FUTURE UNTIL WE ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.

>> Crossley: TATISHE, YOU GET THE LAST WORDS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I WOULD THINK THE ONE THING WE ALSO NEED TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT MASSACHUSETTS HAS A LONG HISTORY OF SUPPORTING AFRICAN-AMERICAN CANDIDATES.

ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN SENATORS, YOU KNOW, POST-RECONSTRUCTION, CAME FROM OUR STATE.

WE HAD ONE OF THE THREE AFRICAN-AMERICAN GOVERNORS, AND NOW WE HAVE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL.

AND, SO, I THINK THERE IS A HISTORY HERE, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF FOLKS INDICATED, YOU KNOW, THE STATE ITSFUL IS NOT AS PROGRESSIVE AS WE THINK IT IS.

THERE ARE THINGS TO CELEBRATE, NOT JUST IN THIS ELECTION BUT HISS I HISTORICALLY, AND THINGS TO BUILD UPON AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, A MORE DIVERSE MASSACHUSETTS AS PERTAINS TO WHO LIVES HERE, BUT ALSO I THINK IN TERMS OF THE POLICIES THAT PEOPLE WANT TO PURSUE, AND HOPEFULLY WITH THIS NEW SLATE OF CANDIDATE THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATEWIDE OFFICE AND THE LEGISLATURE THAT THOSE CANDIDATES WILL PURSUE THOSE POLICIES THAT BETTER THE LIVES OF EVERYONE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> Crossley: OKAY.

WOULD YOU RUN AGAIN?

>> THAT THE A HARD QUESTION FOR ME TO ANSWER.

I'M NOT PREPARED TO ANSWER THAT.

>> Crossley: HASSON.

YES.

>> Crossley: OKAY.

WE'LL LOOK TO SEE YOU AND MAYBE YOU.

(LAUGHTER) ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU.

THAT'S THE END OF OUR BROADCAST AND THE END OF OUR SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.

MIDDLE♪♪ Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org