Two Black Women Make Senate History

Welp, it happened. Donald Trump defeated VP Kamala Harris, reminding us that the prospect of a Black woman ascending to the presidency over a loud and proud white nationalist male was, unfortunately, always a longshot. But good things happened on Election Day too, particularly for Black women in politics.

For the first time in U.S. history, two states elected Black women to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday night. Maryland elected Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D), and Delaware elected Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D), who is currently serving in her fourth term in the U.S. House.

Now, if we’re being honest, a breakdown of the Senate’s history with Black women makes this victory look like ridiculously slow progress. Still, that history also underscores what a significant achievement Alsobrooks and Rochester made.

From NPR:

Their victories double the number of Black women ever elected to the U.S. Senate, from two to four.

Carol Moseley Braun was the first, in 1992, while Vice President Kamala Harris became the second in 2016.

California Sen. Laphonza Butler is the third Black woman to serve in the chamber, but she was not elected — she was appointed in October 2023 to finish out the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s term, which ends in January. She is not seeking reelection.

In other words: Only three Black women have served in the Senate, and never at the same time.

That’s set to change when Alsobrooks, 53, and Blunt Rochester, 62, are sworn in next year.

In fact, not only will two Black women serve together in the U.S. Senate for the first time in U.S. history, but they’re the first Black women to be elected for the position in their respective states. Rochester will be Delaware’s first female senator. That a Black woman was the first to achieve that milestone in a state that is nearly 64% white and only 22% Black is impressive, and it says a lot in a country that obviously couldn’t fathom a qualified Black woman ascending to the presidency. Meanwhile, Alsobrooks is the first Black woman to be elected to any statewide office in Maryland.

To be sure, Alsobrooks’ and Blunt’s victories aren’t only to be celebrated because they’re Black women. They were elected after campaigning on issues that are of the utmost importance to Black people, especially Black women. namely — Black health.

More from NPR:

The two have since referred to each other as their “senator sister,” and spoken about their shared experiences and motivations when it comes to tackling issues from prescription drug affordability to maternal mortality, which disproportionately impacts Black patients.

“The history-making part is good, but the impact is what we’re all going for, to make a difference in people’s lives,” Blunt Rochester told Elle in September. “The ability to go to the Senate and be one of 100 — but also as two of only five [Black women senators] in the history of this country — would be incredible.”

So, Nov. 5 wasn’t all bad.

Congrats and good luck to Senators-elect Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester. Your wins are well-deserved and your leadership is much, much needed.