History has been made in the U.S. Senate.
For the first time in 235 years, two Black women have been elected to serve simultaneously in the U.S. Senate.
Lisa Blunt Rochester, a congresswoman from Delaware, and Angela Alsobrooks, a former county executive and prosecutor from Maryland, triumphed in their races to become the first Black women senators in their respective states, shattering another barrier in an institution long dominated by white men.
As of 2024, only 12 Black people have served in the Senate, and only three of them have been women. Never before have two Black women served in the Senate at the same time.
The first Black woman elected to the Senate was Illinois’ Carol Moseley Braun in 1992, followed by Kamala Harris in 2016. Senator Laphonza Butler, appointed to complete the late Senator Dianne Feinstein’s term, will exit Congress at the end of her term in January 2025.
Rochester and Alsobrooks, who refer to each other as “sister senator,” will become the fourth and fifth Black women to serve in the Senate when sworn in on January 3.
In the words of my friend @AlsobrooksForMD — “Soon, we’ll call each other Sister Senators” pic.twitter.com/Rtjm2NT3Hn
— Lisa Blunt Rochester (@LisaBRochester) August 9, 2024
Both Rochester, 62, and Alsobrooks, 53, were surrogates for Kamala Harris during her presidential campaign and have long considered her a mentor and friend.
“We are a country strengthened over time by the soul and sacrifice of those who serve and by all of those who came before us,” Rochester said during her victory speech Tuesday evening.
“As I prepare to walk the path blazed by three strong Black women senators—Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, Vice-President Kamala Harris, and Senator Laphonza Butler—I have a message for the young people who are standing up, speaking out, and giving your all for your country and the world,” she added.
“I see you, I’m grateful for you, and you’ve got next.”
Alsobrooks echoed a similar message, saying:
“It’s remarkable to think that in two years, America will celebrate its 250th birthday. And in all those years, over 2,000 people have served in the United States Senate. Only three have looked like me,” she said at her watch-night event in College Park, Maryland.
“I want to honor all those who came before me, who made it possible for me to stand on this stage tonight.”
Thank you, Maryland! pic.twitter.com/fUl9HGdmaU
— Angela Alsobrooks (@AlsobrooksForMD) November 6, 2024
From the bottom of my heart, Delaware, thank you ???? pic.twitter.com/UI9GtzqYBJ
— Lisa Blunt Rochester (@LisaBRochester) November 6, 2024
Other historic firsts in the Senate this election include Delaware’s Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, New Jersey’s Andy Kim, the first Asian-American senator representing the Garden State, and Republican Bernie Moreno of Ohio, who became the first Latino senator from Ohio.
