Three black Democratic SC lawmakers back Bernie Sanders

Battling for African-American support, Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders announced his South Carolina leadership team Saturday which includes three Democratic African-American state legislators.

State Reps. Terry Alexander of Florence, Wendell Gilliard of Charleston and Robert Williams of Darlington are among more than 25 committee members backing the U.S. senator from Vermont’s bid for the Democratic nomination.

“Sen. Sanders has the feel, the attitude of the common person, folks who are struggling day-by-day who are working everyday and still cannot pay their bills, ... do not have health insurance ... and cannot support their families,” Alexander said, introducing Sanders who met briefly with media Saturday afternoon.

Sanders is “the strongest candidate here for African Americans and he will bring about change,” Alexander added.

Democratic voters will play a big role in the state’s Feb. 27 presidential primary because they make up more than half of the party’s electorate.

Other members of Sanders’ state committee are elected officials from around the state and Democratic Party and Black Lives Matter activists, according to the campaign. They include:

Allen Bailey, Sumter County Democratic Party chairman

Eugene Baten, Sumter County councilman

Earl Coleman, McCormick County councilman

Donna Dewitt, former president of the S.C. AFL-CIO

Thomas Dixon, president of the Carolina Alliance for Fair Employment

Annejanet Harp, S.C. Democratic Party Faith co-chairwoman

Teresa Harper, Aiken Democratic Party first vice chairwoman

William Lawrence, S.C. Democratic Party veterans chairman

James McCain, Sumter County councilman

Lucinda Nesmith, Florence County Party chairwoman

Naomi Sanders, former Sumter County Council chairwoman

Wanda Stringfellow, former Chester mayor

Timothy Taylor, Atlantic Beach police chief

Tom Turnipseed, former state senator

Stephen Wukela, Florence mayor

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 4:25 PM.