Jan 11, 2025 Story by: Editor
Washington, D.C. – The Congressional Black Caucus marked a historic moment this past Friday with the swearing-in of 62 elected Black officials, setting a new record for representation. This ceremony, held before members took the oath of office for the 119th U.S. Congress, saw groundbreaking milestones, including the first-ever election of two Black women to serve in the U.S. Senate and the election of two Black House representatives from Alabama.
Democrats Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware are the first Black women to serve together in the U.S. Senate, an achievement celebrated as a significant moment in American political history.
In addition, Alabama made history with the election of two Black U.S. House members: incumbent Rep. Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures, who won the newly created 2nd Congressional District. The federal court mandated the creation of this new district in 2022, after a lawsuit, to give Black voters an opportunity to select a representative of their choice. This decision was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2023.
Reflecting on the history of the Congressional Black Caucus, Sewell, who is also the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s board of directors, recalled its founding in 1971 with just 13 members—12 men and one woman. Today, 67 Black lawmakers serve in Congress, representing the largest group of Black officials in Capitol Hill history.
Despite this progress, five Black Republican lawmakers—Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida, Wesley Hunt of Texas, John James of Michigan, and Burgess Owens of Utah—did not attend the ceremony. These members, known for their staunch support of Republican President-elect Donald Trump, are not part of the Congressional Black Caucus. Their alignment with Trump’s policies, including controversial statements, contrasts with the caucus’s focus on racial equality and justice.
Though the Black Caucus is nonpartisan, Democratic members emphasized their commitment to challenging legislation that could harm Black Americans. “Today, we renew our pledge to fight racism where it exists, to weed out inequities in health care, the criminal justice system, education, voter access, and so many rights and benefits that are part and parcel of what it means to be Americans,” Sewell stated. “We, in the Congressional Black Caucus, stand ready for the task ahead.”
Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland expressed concerns about the potential misuse of the U.S. Justice Department by the Trump administration. “That’s not the role of the Department of Justice,” Ivey said. “Protecting the rule of law is what we’ve got to make sure happens now and going forward.” He also spoke about the need for a strategic focus on the 2026 midterm elections as a way to recover from setbacks, recalling how Democrats regained control of the Senate and House after Barack Obama’s election in 2008.
The ceremony, held at The Anthem, was attended by hundreds of family members, friends, and supporters, including Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. Morial emphasized that despite the change in the White House, the Congressional Black Caucus would continue its advocacy work.
“Just because Trump will be president doesn’t mean the caucus stops its advocacy work,” Morial said in an interview. “They should say to the president, ‘if you want to meet us halfway on important priorities like voting rights, elimination of poverty, we will not say no,’” Morial added. “But if your plan is to administer solely to your MAGA base, we will lead the resistance.” Source: Ohio Capital Journal
