Precious McKesson
| Precious McKesson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Fort Bragg, North Carolina |
| 💼 Occupation | Finance Director |
Precious McKesson is an American political activist. She is the Finance Director for the Nebraska Democratic Party and was the political director for the 2020 presidential campaign of Joe Biden in the 2nd District of Nebraska during the 2020 United States presidential election.[1] She is the first woman of color in Nebraska to cast an Electoral College ballot, and the first woman in Nebraska to cast an Electoral College ballot for a Democrat.[2][3] McKesson cast the electoral vote of the 2nd district of Nebraska for the Democratic candidate, Joe Biden.[3]
Career[edit]
McKesson began her political career with work as a volunteer for the 1997 campaign of Brenda Council, who was an Omaha City Councilwoman running for mayor against the then-mayor, Hal Daub.[2] She has since worked in a court clerk's office and in a staff position for Nebraska State Senator Justin Wayne, as well as the Urban Affairs Committee of the Nebraska Legislature.[2] In 2018, she was hired by Jane Kleeb, the Nebraska Democratic State Party Chair, to assist with outreach activities.[2] McKesson was introduced to Kleeb by Wayne.[1]
In August 2018, McKesson was described by NBC News as "indicative of a new breed of Democratic operative - progressive, outspoken and authentic, even in a deep red state."[4] At the time, McKesson served as the first Constituency Director for the Nebraska Democratic Party.[4] In 2019, she became an ambassador for The United State of Women, a national advocacy and lobbying organization.[5]
During the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign, McKesson was the chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party’s Black caucus.[6] She was politically active in Omaha, Nebraska area, including by organizing events, distributing signs, and registering voters. It was for such work that McKesson was elected by voters in CD2 to cast the electoral college vote, according to the Nebraska State party chair, Jane Kleeb.[2] McKesson was the only elector in the state to cast a vote for the Democratic candidate.[2] Her vote was seen as historic not only because she was the first African American woman to act as an elector for Nebraska,[7] but also because she was able to cast her vote for Kamala Harris.[3]
McKesson has served as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Neighborhoods USA, a national nonprofit organization, with her first term expiring in October, 2021.[8] She was also involved in organizing and hosting the first People of Color Political Convention, held in March 2021, to help improve voter turnout in municipal elections in Omaha.[9] McKesson is also the President of the North Omaha Neighborhood Alliance.[10]
Personal life[edit]
McKesson has one daughter.[1][11][12] She is also the caretaker for her younger brother since he was paralyzed from gunshot wounds in 2009.[1] Her mother is Sandra Franklin.[2] When McKesson cast her electoral college vote, she said she was thinking of her aunt, who died in 2018 after casting her first vote, and her grandmother, who worked for minimum wage as a housekeeper.[13]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Walton, Don (November 17, 2020). "Omaha woman will cast 'magical' electoral vote for Biden, Harris". Lincoln Journal Star. Star Herald. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Sanderford, Aaron (November 29, 2020). "The Elector: Precious McKesson will cast Nebraska's 2nd District electoral vote for Biden". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Behrmann, Savannah (December 15, 2020). "First woman of color elector in Nebraska casts Electoral College vote for Joe Biden". USA Today. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Explosion of activism: A new breed of Democrat rises in a red state". NBC News. August 31, 2018. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
- ↑ "Omaha woman becomes national ambassador for United State of Women". KMTV3. Scripps Media, Inc. July 23, 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Searcey, Dionne (September 8, 2020). "The Battle Over Biscuits and Gravy at the 11-Worth Cafe". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Meyer, Macy (December 14, 2020). "Nebraska Electors cast vote while Precious McKesson makes history". ABC 8. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ "Neighborhoods USA Board of Directors". Neighborhoods USA. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Monroe, Waverle (2021-03-13). "Event hopes to encourage people of color to vote in primaries". KETV. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
- ↑ Monroe, Waverle (2020-06-26). "Community activists react to Omaha police's use of force policy changes". KETV. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
- ↑ Fraser, Quanecia (November 7, 2020). "'Thrilling, exciting, hopeful': Several in Omaha celebrate Biden and Harris win". KETV 7. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Mastre, Brian (January 20, 2021). "Omaha's Precious McKesson and daughter react to Biden-Harris inauguration". NBC6/WOWT. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ↑ Weaving, Nicole (December 15, 2020). "Precious McKesson makes history casting Electoral College Democratic ballot". NTV ABC. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
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