The Inside Story of How Jesse Jackson Almost Became America’s First Black Presidential Nominee

November 12, 2025

Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. 's 1988 presidential campaign represented a pivotal moment when a Black candidate came remarkably close to securing the Democratic nomination, forcing the party establishment to confront its own biases and electability concerns. After winning the Michigan caucuses in March 1988, Jackson briefly held a delegate lead over Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, triggering widespread panic among Democratic Party officials who feared both nominating him and losing in November, as well as alienating Black voters by denying him the nomination.

Who is affected

Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and his campaign team, including campaign manager Jerry Austin
Democratic Party officials, fundraisers, and establishment figures
Michael Dukakis and his campaign organization
Black voters in the South and nationwide who formed a critical Democratic voting bloc
White voters, particularly in industrial Midwestern states and rural farming communities
Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill
Small-dollar donors contributing to Jackson's campaign
Campaign advisers including John C. White, Bert Lance, Ann Lewis, and Paul Wellstone
Other Democratic primary candidates including Dick Gephardt and Al Gore
The broader Democratic Party electorate and convention delegates

What action is being taken

Jackson is convening advisers in his Chicago home to plan for a potential presidency, including discussing cabinet positions and White House appointments
The campaign is using mail solicitations to fundraise and collecting donations at rallies and campaign events
Jackson is working the room at a Jefferson Hotel gathering with party officials to "raise the comfort level" and relieve anxiety
Jackson and his campaign are holding rallies in Wisconsin, including on the Blu-Fay dairy farm
Dukakis is campaigning to better define himself as "the Great Builder"
Jackson is meeting with Dukakis and their wives at Dukakis' Brookline home in the lead-up to the convention

Why it matters

Jackson's 1988 campaign represented a watershed moment in American politics when a Black candidate came closest to securing a major party's presidential nomination, forcing the Democratic Party to confront deep-seated questions about race, electability, and representation. The campaign exposed a fundamental tension within the party between its reliance on Black voters as a critical constituency and the establishment's fear that nominating a Black candidate would result in electoral disaster. Jackson's success demonstrated the power of economic populist messaging that could unite diverse constituencies across racial lines, from urban workers to family farmers. The reforms Jackson secured at the convention, despite losing the nomination, had lasting impact on the party's nominating process and ultimately helped pave the way for Barack Obama's successful candidacy two decades later. The campaign also highlighted how perceptions of "electability" can become self-fulfilling prophecies that maintain barriers for non-traditional candidates.

What's next

Dukakis chooses Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas as his running mate rather than Jackson, and goes on to lose to Vice President George H.W. Bush in an electoral landslide in the general election. Jackson uses his leverage at the Democratic National Convention to push through changes to the Democratic Party's platform and rules.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint