Historically, Black women have been pivotal in safeguarding voting rights and motivating their communities to participate in elections. This three-part series showcases their influential efforts as they strive for political representation and a voice in decision-making.

WILMINGTON, Delaware ‒ Lisa Blunt Rochester put on a white plastic helmet, then bent down to grab a shovel, filling it with dirt and tossing it in front of the cameras stationed at Wilmington’s regional airport.

Even when the cameras were off, Delaware’s only congresswoman smiled brightly one recent morning as Sen. Tom Carper held her hand tightly.

“I called on everyone within earshot throughout the state to rally behind Lisa,’’ Carper, who is stepping down from his role as a U.S. senator, told a reporter.

He mentioned that young girls will look up to Blunt Rochester’s aspiration to be the first woman and first African American senator from Delaware. “She’s going to inspire many young girls,’’ he noted.

For Blunt Rochester, it was a moment of reflection. Years ago, during her time working with Carper, who was then a congressman, she played a role in securing grants to fund airport expansion. Now, she stood under a tent promoting a $5.6 million investment for the airport’s growth while campaigning for Carper’s Senate seat.

“Attending events like this and reconnecting with colleagues I’ve known for so long ‒ it feels like we’re truly making progress, not just discussing it,” Blunt Rochester expressed later that day.

A few days later, in Maryland, Angela Alsobrooks took the stage at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a historically Black institution, addressing a small audience of students.

Alsobrooks, 53, highlighted her history as Maryland’s first domestic violence prosecutor and her role as the executive of Prince George’s County, a suburban area close to Washington, D.C.

She continued to speak.

Maryland is currently without any women in Congress.

Furthermore, she pointed out that only two Black women have ever been elected to the U.S. Senate.

“It is vital for America to have representatives who genuinely understand our experiences and can make decisions that reflect our needs,” Alsobrooks emphasized.

If both candidates win their elections next month, Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks, who are both Democrats, will make history by being the first two Black women to hold Senate seats at the same time.

They would join a small group of only five Black women to have ever served in the Senate’s lengthy 235-year history, which has attracted significant national attention to their campaigns.

“This is a milestone that deserves recognition because it’s unprecedented, and it’s crucial to have diverse voices in the U.S. Senate,” said Deborah Walsh, the director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. “Voices of Black women are essential in discussions because they bring unique perspectives, contributing to the diversity we need in our governing bodies.”

However, Walsh also cautioned, “It’s bittersweet that in 2024, the maximum number of Black women serving together would still be just two. There should be more.”

Experts believe that the inclusion of these women in a predominantly white and male Senate could alter its composition and influence the dialogues in chambers and committee meetings.

Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks have pledged to advocate for various issues including job creation, economic growth, reproductive rights, health care equity, and the protection of voting rights.

Despite some dismissing discussions about a candidate’s race or gender as mere political correctness or tokenism, Blunt Rochester insists that diversity is crucial to the functioning of America’s democracy.

“We contribute something significant,” she stated regarding Black women politicians. “We have a unique ability to unite people and solve problems. Having diverse participants ensures the quality of decisions made at the table is enhanced. It’s crucial for representation that reflects our diverse professional and personal journeys. Visibility in these roles encourages others to believe, ‘I can achieve that too.’

Gaining Valuable Experience

Experts have identified a notable challenge: providing Black women with the necessary experience to compete at both national and state levels.

According to Laphonza Butler, the only Black woman in the Senate, women candidates, especially women of color, have historically faced significant hurdles in fundraising for their campaigns, as reported by YSL News.

“Women of color receive only a small portion of the financial support compared to other candidates,” said Butler, who previously led Emily’s List, an organization that backs Democratic women. “Financial constraints will remain an issue until we work to address these disparities.”

This is why it’s essential for political parties and supporters to back Black women candidates in viable districts like Delaware and Maryland, suggested Walsh.

She referenced a previous Baltimore election where a Black Republican woman attempted to secure a U.S. House seat. “A Republican isn’t likely to win in strongly Democratic Baltimore, regardless of gender,” she noted.

The only Black Republican woman to ever serve in Congress was former Utah Rep. Mia Love, who held office from 2015 to 2019.

“We must provide the necessary resources and backing to women running in areas where they can genuinely succeed, irrespective of their political affiliation,” Walsh emphasized.

Assessing Victory Chances

The Cook Political Report indicates that Blunt Rochester’s seat is securely Democratic.

Nevertheless, Blunt Rochester, 62, who is also the national co-chair for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, is not taking her success for granted. She has hosted discussions with veterans and Black small business owners and has actively campaigned throughout the state.

“We must approach this with seriousness, which we are doing,” commented Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, praising Alsobrooks as a “very strong contender.”

However, he noted that governors naturally attract considerable media coverage. “He already starts with that name recognition. Alsobrooks simply needs to increase her visibility, which she is actively working on,” Peters explained. “This requires funding… But I have confidence she will succeed.”

The Cook Political Report rates this Senate seat as “likely Democratic.”

Additionally, Valerie McCray, another Black female candidate and a Democrat, is seeking a Senate position in Indiana.

Competing in a highly conservative environment puts her at a disadvantage, as she faces overwhelming financial support for her opponent, with an 80-to-1 spending disparity.

Yet, McCray, a clinical psychologist challenging Republican Rep. Jim Banks, remains optimistic that voters desire new leadership.

“Voters are looking for someone untainted by the establishment, someone who isn’t just another typical politician,” she shared with YSL News.

Underrepresentation of Black Women

Throughout U.S. history, just three Black women have served in the Senate, all of whom were Democrats. Carol Moseley Braun served from Illinois from 1993 to 1999, and Kamala Harris from California from 2017 to 2021, before she became vice president.

Last year, Laphonza Butler was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to fill the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s position. Butler, however, has decided not to pursue the seat in 2024.

She has relied on support from others, including Harris, throughout her brief term.

“I lean on my trusted network, which has consistently supported me throughout my career,” Butler told YSL News in a prior interview. “I seek both comfort and motivation, because often what I need is just that extra push.”

Black women constitute nearly 8% of the U.S. population, yet they are notably underrepresented in politics.

According to the Center for American Women and Politics, there are only eleven Black women in statewide elected offices, 28 serving in Congress, and two as U.S. delegates. Currently, only one Black woman is in the Senate, and no Black woman has ever been elected as a governor in any state.

This Congress has witnessed some milestones, including three Black women being part of the Ohio delegation, all of whom are seeking reelection.

During a panel at last month’s Congressional Black Caucus Foundation legislative conference, Blunt Rochester, Alsobrooks, and Butler convened in Washington, D.C., in front of an audience filled with Black organizers, students, policymakers, and strategists.

The discussion was often emotional, reflecting the challenges and accomplishments in their respective journeys.

Butler expressed her enthusiasm for the movement to elect more than one Black woman to the Senate.

“I’m thrilled about the opportunities they’ll create when we shift our focus from just counting to truly welcoming women—Black women, women of color, and women from all backgrounds—into the highest political chamber of our country,” Butler stated.

She emphasized the crucial responsibilities of senators, such as confirming federal judges, while also advocating for the protection of voting rights.

Blunt Rochester shared her commitment to address issues specifically affecting communities of color, including the alarming rates of maternal mortality and student debt.

Alsobrooks wholeheartedly agreed.

“We are determined to make bold strides,” she remarked. “Our very presence transforms the atmosphere.”

‘Representation Matters’

At the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, many students gathered around the rotunda, pausing to hear Alsobrooks speak as they headed to their classes.

She wore a striking black and green T-shirt featuring her portrait styled like Barack Obama’s famous 2008 “Hope” poster—a nod to a ground-breaking election that occurred shortly after her audience was born.

Alsobrooks connected with students by reflecting on her own daughter, who is just 19, and recognizing the values that resonate with their generation: freedom from gun violence, autonomy over their own bodies, and opportunities for a brighter future through quality education, affordable healthcare, and economic prospects.

Without directly mentioning him, Alsobrooks outlined her opposition to her Republican opponent, Hogan, whose entry into the race this year has made a traditionally Democratic state more competitive for Republicans.

She stressed that her campaign is crucial for maintaining a Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate, where facing challenges is inevitable. Republicans need only two more seats to regain control, with one seat in West Virginia likely already secured due to the retirement of independent Senator Joe Manchin.

“The Senate wields immense power over our country’s agenda,” she stated.

Given its significance, both major parties and wealthy donors are investing vast sums into this competitive race, even as both candidates have sustained a respectful stance towards one another.

Jada Wilkinson, a junior from New York and vice president of the school’s student government, was one of the students accompanying Alsobrooks on her campus tour. She expressed her surprise when Alsobrooks revealed how few Black women have served in the Senate.

“I was genuinely shocked,” she remarked.

“It’s crucial that we have diverse representation since everyone contributes to the fabric of our nation,” she continued. “Having someone like her as an advocate is incredibly meaningful.”

The Significance of Visibility

On a recent afternoon, Blunt Rochester enjoyed a cortado—a blend of espresso and steamed milk—at a charming coffee shop in her childhood neighborhood in Wilmington. The Troisieme Café is situated mere blocks from where she spent her formative years.

It was a brief interlude between her attendance at an airport expansion event and an upcoming discussion with union leaders.

Blunt Rochester expressed her appreciation for serving in Congress.

“I feel incredibly thankful. This role has rejuvenated my joy,” she explained, noting that it has been a decade since her husband, Charles, passed away and she pursued a seat in the House.

When she took office in 2017, she made history as the first African American and the first woman to represent Delaware in the U.S. House.

Previously, she had worked as an intern for Congressman Carper starting in 1988, and shared her aspiration to one day follow in his footsteps. With Carper now retiring after a long political career, he has endorsed her candidacy. She is set to compete against GOP candidate Eric Hansen and independent Mike Katz on November 5.

Carper, who considers himself Blunt Rochester’s greatest supporter, emphasized that she “will motivate people across all communities.”

“Some might even aspire to be president or governor because of her influence,” he added.

Being a trailblazer has presented its challenges. Blunt Rochester reminisced about attending an event with Senators Carper and Chris Coons, where she was overlooked as a member of the congressional delegation, which she used as a teachable moment for her peers.

She also recalled attending an event where the Confederate flag was on display, a symbol of racism for many African Americans.

Nevertheless, Blunt Rochester emphasized the importance of visibility.

“It warms my heart when a child tells me, ‘I did my report on you,’” she shared. “It’s a humbling experience and one must view it as an honor, not a burden.”

She holds onto a business card from her father, Ted Blunt, which reads, “You can’t be what you don’t see.”

Blunt Rochester revealed that when she announced her candidacy for the Senate, she was eager to reach out to Mosley Braun, the first African American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, to express her gratitude for being a role model.

“I wanted to thank her for being someone I could look up to,” Blunt Rochester reflected.

Blunt Rochester went on to share her journey with Mosley Braun,

Butler and Alsobrooks were spotted at an event held at a Chicago museum during the week the Democratic National Convention took place this summer.

“It’s meaningful to realize you’re not on this journey alone, even in moments when you might be the only one present,’’ Blunt Rochester reflected. “With me are my grandmothers, my mother, my daughters, my granddaughter, and my father.”

This wouldn’t be Blunt Rochester’s first achievement as a trailblazer if she succeeds, yet she expressed that this occasion feels particularly significant.

“We are in a unique time in our history,’’ she shared. “We have faced challenges unprecedented before, like a pandemic and the widespread emotional distress following George Floyd’s death. This moment is unlike any other. Consequently, the stakes are elevated, and the potential for making a meaningful difference is greater.”