The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is set to have a record-breaking 62 members for the upcoming session of Congress, contributing to the highest number of Black lawmakers in U.S. history, as outlined in a post-election report shared with NBC News.
In total, 67 Black individuals will serve in Congress, with five Republican members excluded from the CBC.
Originally, the caucus had planned to champion a policy agenda for Black and marginalized groups during a Kamala Harris administration. However, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) stated that the CBC’s role will now focus on holding President-elect Donald Trump and his congressional allies accountable.
“We’ve always been the conscience of the Congress, and that’s no matter who’s in charge,” said Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in an interview with NBC News. “We always try to work with folks where we can. But we call them out also. And now we have more of these leaders to call truth to power, to make sure that the voices of the voiceless are heard.”
Founded in 1971, the Congressional Black Caucus is a non-partisan organization, though all of its members are Democrats. The CBC’s mission focuses on advocating for Black and marginalized groups through initiatives such as voter rights, healthcare access, educational opportunities, job creation, criminal justice reform, and fostering foreign relations with Black-majority nations. According to the CBC’s website, its members represent 120 million people in the U.S. and 41% of Black Americans.
