The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) celebrated a historic milestone with its largest membership ever, as 62 Black lawmakers were sworn in ahead of the 119th United States Congress. Among them were groundbreaking figures, including two Black women Senators and two Black U.S. House members from Alabama serving simultaneously for the first time.
Democrats Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware made history as the first two Black women to serve together in the U.S. Senate. Their elections were met with enthusiasm and optimism, signaling progress in representation. “I am honored to serve the people of Maryland and am ready to get to work,” Alsobrooks said, while Blunt Rochester expressed her excitement, saying: “Let’s get to work.” Both senators took their oaths of office from Vice President Kamala Harris.
The CBC also celebrated the historic election of Shomari Figures, who joins incumbent Rep. Terri Sewell as Alabama’s two Black U.S. House members. Figures represent Alabama’s newly created 2nd Congressional District, which emerged following a landmark 2022 federal court ruling mandating a second “opportunity district” for Black voters. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the decision in 2023, paving the way for greater representation in the state.
Established in 1971 with just 13 members, the CBC has grown significantly and now includes seasoned leaders such as Rep. Alma Adams of North Carolina, serving her sixth term, with notable newcomers like Janelle Bynum, Oregon’s first Black member of Congress. The swearing-in ceremony, held at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., was attended by family members, supporters, and prominent figures, including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, New York Attorney General Tish James, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
While the CBC remains nonpartisan, its Democratic members reaffirmed their dedication to advancing policies that protect the rights and opportunities of Black Americans. “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 other areas,” said Rep. Terri Sewell.
Notably absent from the ceremony were the five Black Republican members of Congress: 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. As supporters of President-elect Donald Trump, they have pledged allegiance to his future policies, diverging from the CBC’s priorities.
Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland expressed concerns about potential abuses of power under the incoming administration, particularly within the Department of Justice. “Protecting the rule of law is what we’ve got to make sure happens now and going forward,” he said. Ivey also voiced optimism about future elections, saying: “A setback is a setup for a comeback.”
Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, spoke fervently about the CBC’s advocacy despite the hostile political climate the upcoming administration has wrought. “If your plan is to administer solely to your MAGA base, we will lead the resistance,” he said.
