For the first time in American history, the U.S. Senate will include two Black women, as Delaware’s Lisa Blunt Rochester and Maryland’s Angela Alsobrooks secure seats in Congress.
Both women achieved groundbreaking victories, marking a momentous shift in representation and inspiring future generations.
Blunt Rochester, a former congresswoman, is making history as Delaware’s first Black senator and the state’s first female senator.
Known for her dedication to public service, she has long been a trailblazer in Delaware politics, previously serving as the first Black woman from the state to be elected to Congress.
Celebrating her win with supporters chanting “LBR” on election night, she acknowledged the pioneering Black women senators who came before her: Carol Moseley Braun, Kamala Harris, and Laphonza Butler.
“We are a country that is strengthened over time by the soul and sacrifice of those who serve and by all of those who came before us,” Blunt Rochester shared in her speech. Addressing young Americans, she added, “I see you, I’m grateful to you, and you’ve got next.”
Alsobrooks, who previously served as county executive and prosecutor, made history as Maryland’s first Black senator by winning a close race against a former Republican governor.
The two new senators have built a close friendship, referring to each other as “sister senator-to-be” in text conversations.
Alsobrooks’s victory also reflects a significant shift in Maryland’s political landscape, underscoring her extensive experience in local governance and her commitment to public service.
Their historic achievements add to the legacy of three Black women who previously served in the U.S. Senate: Carol Moseley Braun, Kamala Harris, and Laphonza Butler.
Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks now carry that legacy forward, marking a new era for Black women in leadership.
President Joe Biden called Blunt Rochester to congratulate her, celebrating this milestone for his home state of Delaware.
The evening of “firsts” in Delaware also saw the election of Sarah McBride, the nation’s first openly transgender person elected to Congress, adding to a remarkable night in American political history.
