WASHINGTON _ Democrats lost arguably their most prominent presidential candidate of color Tuesday when Kamala Harris suddenly ended her campaign, leaving the party's upper echelon of contenders _ including all of those currently qualified for the next debate _ entirely white.
It's a stark new reality that has left many leading progressive activists disappointed, upset and concerned that the 2020 field is not reflecting an increasingly diverse Democratic base, harming the party's chances to defeat President Donald Trump in next year's general election.
"How can we be the party of social justice, how can we be the party of black voters, how can we be the party of change, if we are not embracing the shifts happening in our electorate and demographics?" said Jessica Morales Rocketto, executive director of Care in Action, a nonprofit group that advocates for domestic workers.
