Black voters could be the determining factor in six competitive races in California that could determine which party controls the House of Representatives.

A recent report revealed that Black Californians are still encountering substantial economic and housing disparities.

The Black Policy Project, an initiative of the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies, released a report showing that Black homeownership from 2000 to 2020 in the state decreased by nearly 6% while other racial and ethnic groups did not have the same decrease over that period. The median income for Black households remained mostly the same, though other groups had increased earnings of over $10,000.

While it’s clear the state needs to be doing more to address these inequities, Democrats nationally should be paying attention, too.

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As Politico recently reported, Black Californians play an outsized role in which party will control the House after November. Six competitive districts in the state are key to determining that outcome, and while Democratic strategists aren’t worried that Black voters in those districts will vote Republican, they are worried those voters may not turn out at all. It’s a reasonable concern: A December 2022 poll found that Black voters in California are cooling to the Democratic Party.

This all begs the question: Are state Democrats taking their Black voters for........

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