This fall’s U.S. Senate races hold the potential for history-making moments, with two Black women, Delaware’s Lisa Blunt Rochester and Maryland’s Angela Alsobrooks, poised to possibly join the chamber.
If both Democratic candidates win, it would mark the first time in over 200 years of American history that two Black women serve simultaneously in the Senate.
Blunt Rochester, who is running for the seat held by retiring Senator Tom Carper, acknowledges the significance but states that her goal is to make a difference, not just history.
“It’s about impacting people’s lives,” she said.
Alsobrooks, currently Prince George’s County Executive, echoes this sentiment.
“People like me, and stories like mine, don’t usually make it to the U.S. Senate — but they should,” she noted.
Alsobrooks faces a competitive race against former Republican Governor Larry Hogan, in a contest that could shape the future of Senate control.
If elected, Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks would double the number of Black women ever elected to the Senate, which has historically been dominated by white men.
Only three Black women have served in the chamber: Carol Moseley Braun (D-IL), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Laphonza Butler (D-CA), who was appointed to fill a vacancy.
Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, said of the prospect:
“How is it possible that two Black women have never served together? It’s about time.”
The Senate races this fall are fiercely contested, with high stakes as the balance of power in Congress and the White House are in play.
While Blunt Rochester’s victory seems likely after securing her uncontested primary, Alsobrooks is engaged in a tight race.
The challenges facing Black women in these campaigns reflect deeper barriers within the political system, where they have historically struggled to gain full support from their parties.
Nevertheless, both candidates are focused on making a lasting impact through their leadership. Alsobrooks ran a grassroots campaign, defying the odds by defeating wealthy primary opponent David Trone.
On the campaign trail, Blunt Rochester often shares the story of her great-great-great-grandfather, an enslaved man who gained the right to vote during Reconstruction.
Alsobrooks speaks of her family’s experience leaving South Carolina after her great-grandfather was shot by a sheriff’s deputy, events that drive their commitment to fighting for justice and equity.
As they run alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, a former senator herself, the two candidates refer to each other as “sister senator to be,” reflecting their shared experiences and mutual support.
With history on the horizon, both women remain committed to their broader mission: to represent the people and help build a more inclusive, equitable government.
