With the 117th class of Congress taken their seats in Washington D.C., how many Black Senators and Representatives are representing the country at the U.S. Capitol?
The U.S. Congress has 535 members total. There are 100 Senators (two per state) and 435 representatives in the House of Representatives. How many representatives a state has depends on the size, but all states will have at least one.
This new class in Congress, which will serve from 2021 to 2023, has 62 Black Congresspeople according to the U.S. House of Representatives archives. With 59 representatives in the House and three Senators, this new class is a small jump from the previous term.
While members of Congress work on a variety of issues and legislation, here are the current Black members of Congress and some of the main issues they support.
Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands)
Serving her 4th term in Congress, Plaskett is the first Congress member from a U.S. territory to serve on the House Committee on Ways and Means. She advocates for infrastructure, agriculture and economic development.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Massachusetts)
Serving her 2nd term, Presley is the first woman of color to represent Massachusetts in Congress. She advocates for reproductive justice, housing and criminal justice.
Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Illinois)
This is Rush's 15th term in Congress. Serving on several committees and caucuses, Rush focuses on energy, small businesses, and women's health.
Rep. David Scott (D-Georgia)
Serving his 10th term, Scott supports agriculture, veterans, education and veterans. He is Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, Senior member of the Financial Services Committee and member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
Rep. Robert (Bobby) Scott (D-Virginia)
This is his 15th term in Congress. Scott is the first African-American to represent Virginia since Reconstruction and the first American with Filipino ancestry to serve as a voting member in Congress. He advocates for social services and the economy.
Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina)
Serving his 6th term, Scott is on multiple committees. He is an advocate for workforce development, diversity and entrepreneurship.
Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Alabama)
In her 6th term in Congress, Sewell is one of the first women elected to Congress from Alabama and is the first Black woman to ever serve in the Alabama Congressional delegation. She advocates for preserving history, jobs creation and skills training.
Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-Washington)
Serving her 1st term, Strickland is the first African-American to represent Washington State and the first Korean-American woman elected to Congress. She focusses on the economy, the environment and workers' rights.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi)
This is Thompson's 15 term. He is the longest-serving African-American elected official in Mississippi. Thompson focuses on homeland security, agriculture and civil rights.
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-New York)
Serving his first term, Torres ran on issues involving the economy, education and health. His first piece of legislation was an amendment to the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, which supports apprenticeships for people with English language barriers.
Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Illinois)
In her 2nd term, Underwood is the first woman, person of color and millennial to represent her community. She is also the youngest African-American woman to serve in the House. She focuses on health, gun violence and LGBTQ equality.
Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas)
Serving his 5th term, Veasey founded the first Congressional Voting Rights Caucus. He is an advocate for healthcare, education and workers' wages.
Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia)
Serving his first term in Congress, Warnock ran on issues involving the LGBTQ+ community, voting rights, national security and more.
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-California)
Serving her 16th term, Waters is the first woman and African-American Chair of the House Financial Services Committee. Throughout her career she worked on legislation for women's issues, affirmative action, and protecting children.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-New Jersey)
Serving her 4th term, Coleman is the first Black woman to represent New Jersey in Congress. She works on legislation for prison reform, women's health, mental health, and prison reform.
Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Georgia)
In her first term in Congress, Williams is on committees for financial services, diversity and inclusion, transportation and infrastructure and the modernization of Congress.
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Florida)
In her 6th term, Wilson is on several committees and caucuses. She works on legislation involving jobs, education, housing, Medicare, and Social Security.
Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Georgia)
McBath is serving her 2nd term. She is a staunch advocate for gun reform, ending gun violence, healthcare and small businesses. McBath has worked on several pieces of legislation during her time in office so far, including securing $500 million for COVID-19 relief.
Rep. Aston Donald McEachin (D-Virginia)
This is his 3rd term. Serving on different committees, McEachin works on legislation toward the climate crisis, technology, and the environment.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-New York)
This is his 13th term. Meeks is the first Black Member of Congress to serve as Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
He also serves on committees related to consumer credit, the banking system and diversity within the finance industry.
Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Maryland)
This is his 7th term in Congress. Mfume left in 1996 to become President and Chief Executive Officer of the NAACP and then returned in 2020 to finish former Congressman Elijah Cummings term after his death. Notably, he helped pass the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Rep. Gwendolynne (Gwen) Moore (D-Wisconsin)
This is her 9th term in Congress. Moore is the first African-American elected to Congress representing Wisconsin. She advocates for minority communities, affordable housing, low-wage workers and women's issues.
Rep. Joseph Neguse (D-Colorado)
This is Neguse's 2nd term. He is the first African-American member of congress to represent Colorado. Neguse introduced more legislation than any freshman lawmaker in the U.S. during his first term.
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Washington, D.C.)
This is her 16th term in Congress. Norton served as the first woman to chair the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission during President Jimmy Carter. She advocates for D.C. statehood and economic development in the city.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota)
Omar is serving her 2nd term in congress. She is the first Somali-American Member of Congress, the first woman of color to represent Minnesota, and one of the first two Muslim-American women elected to Congress. She focuses on immigration reform, education, and climate change.
Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah)
Owens is serving his 1st term. He ran advocating for issues involving the economy, energy, veterans and healthcare.
Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-New Jersey)
This is Payne's 6th term. He supports the Affordable Care Act and focuses on legislation involving transportation and infrastructure, clean water and gun violence.
Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nevada)
This is Horsford's 3rd term in congress. Horsford entered Congress with the goals of fighting for gun control, families and prison reform. He is Nevada's first African-American State Senate Majority Leader.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas)
This is her 14th term in Congress. Lee is on three Congressional Committees for the judiciary, homeland security and the budget. She is also working on criminal justice reform and legislation to support women and children.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York)
Jeffries is serving his 5th term. In Congress, Jeffries advocates for social and economic justice and healthcare. He became the first African-American man to serve as House Impeachment Manager for former President Trump’s Senate trial.
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas)
Johnson is serving her 15th term in congress. She is the first African-American and woman to chair the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Johnson has authored and co-authored almost 200 bills that have become law.
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Georgia)
This is his 8th term in Congress. Johnson advocates for digital inclusion and an open internet, demilitarization of local law enforcement and protecting consumers and citizens' civil liberties.
Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-New York)
This is Jones first term serving in Congress. He advocates for civil rights, COVID-19 relief, universal healthcare and climate action, among other issues. Jones is the youngest member of the Democratic House Leadership team.
Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Illinois)
This is Kelly’s 5th term in Congress. She serves committees for energy and commerce, health, and consumer protection. She works on legislation for expanding healthcare access, national security, gun reform and economic development.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Michigan)
This is her 4th term in Congress. Serving on several committees, Lawrence focuses on women’s issues, transportation, housing and urban development, the environment and national security.
Rep. Alfred Lawson Jr. (D-Florida)
Lawson is serving his 3rd term. He focuses on legislation for college affordability, mental health access for military veterans, ending hunger, and the environment.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-California)
Lee is serving her 13th term. She was the only Member of congress to oppose authorizing use of military force after the September 11th, 2001 attacks. Lee was openly against the Iraq war. She also advocates for ending poverty and HIV.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Florida)
This is Donalds’s first term in Congress. He ran on a platform of issues including the 2nd Amendment, the military, water quality and healthcare.
Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Pennsylvania)
This is Evans’s fourth term in congress. During his time in office Evans had one of his bills passed and signed into law during his first term. The law is designed to reduce costs for small businesses when applying for loans. Evans also advocates for gun reform and economic development, among other issues.
Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio)
This is Fudge’s eighth term in Congress. Fudge advocates for voter protection, equal access to education, nutrition and fair labor practices. She also works to strengthen Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Rep. Al Green (D-Texas)
This is Greens ninth term in office. He is the Assistant Whip of the Democratic Party. Green focuses on issues involving Homeland Security, community development and diversity and inclusion.
Rep. Alcee Lamar Hastings (D-Florida)
Hasting’s is serving his 15th term in Congress. The former Florida judge is the first African-American to hold the position of federal judge for the state. With his election to Congress, Hastings became the first African-American from Florida to serve post Civil-War. His focus issues include national security, jobs, the environment and foreign policy.
Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Connecticut)
Hayes is serving her second term in office. She is the first African American Democrat to represent the state in Congress. The former teacher advocates for public education, agriculture and social justice.
Rep. George Kenneth (G.K.) Butterfield Jr. (D- North Carolina)
This is Butterfield’s 10th term in Congress. The former civil rights attorney and judge, is a prominent leader in Congress. Key issues throughout his career include anti-poverty programs, economic development, voting rights, and diversity within leadership. Butterfield is currently Senior Chief Deputy Whip.
Rep. André Carson (D-Indiana)
This is Carson’s eighth term in Congress. As a member of various caucuses, Carson works on issues for affordable healthcare, counterterrorism and counterintelligence. He has also authored multiple bills that have been signed into law for military members and their families.
Rep. Yvette Diane Clarke (D-New York)
This year marks Clarke’s eighth term in Congress. She is Chair of the Homeland Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Innovation Subcommittee. Clarke also introduced the The Dream and Promise Act and works toward diversity within media and technology, and sustainable communities of color.
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Missouri)
Cleaver was first elected to the 110th class, making this his ninth term in office. He serves on the House Committee on Financial Services; Chair of the subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy. As well as various subcommittees.
Rep. James Enos Clyburn (D- South Carolina)
First elected to the 103rd class, this will be Clyburn’s 15th term. While Clyburn focuses on a range of issues including healthcare, voting rights and economic opportunity, he has a passion for historic preservation. Clyburn has helped restore buildings in Historically Black Colleges (HBCUs) and create historic monuments in South Carolina.
Rep. Danny K Davis (D-Illinois)
This is Davis’s 13th term in Congress. Throughout his career, Davis has worked on legislation for healthcare, job creation, education and the environment. Davis also hosts weekly TV and radio programs, and writes weekly reports for households in his district.
Rep. Antonio Delgado (D- New York)
This is Delgado’s second term in office. Delgado serves on the Committees of Agriculture, Small Business and Transportation and Infrastructure. During his first term Delgado held 50 town halls in efforts to ensure transparency and accessibility.
Rep. Valdez Demings (D-Florida)
This is Demings’s third term in Congress. Demings became one of the first women and first Black Americans to prosecute a presidential impeachment in the U.S. Senate. She is on committees for homeland security, the Judiciary and intelligence.
Rep. Alma Adams (D- North Carolina)
Adams was first elected for the 113th class (2013-2015) and has served consecutively since then.
Adams has served on several committees and caucus groups for various issues but education has remained a staple throughout her career. Adams has introduced legislation for school funding, nutritious meals, and Historically Black Colleges (HBCU).
Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas)
This is Allred's second term in Congress. He was first elected to the 116th class (2019-2021).
Before becoming a U.S. Representative, Allred was a civil rights attorney and linebacker. He is on three committees; Transportation and Infrastructure, Foreign Affairs and Veterans’ Affairs.
Rep. Karen Bass (D- California_
Bass was first elected to the 112th Congress (2011-2103) and has served consecutive terms since.
Bass serves on caucuses involving issues impacting the Black community and committees involving foreign affairs and criminal justice reform.
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio)
First elected to 113th class (2013-2015), serving consecutive terms.
Beatty has worked on legislation for human trafficking, financial services for college students and a veterans' memorial and museum in Ohio.
Rep. Sanford Dixon Bishop Jr. (D-Georgia)
Bishop was first elected to the 103rd congress (1993-1995) and has served consecutive terms since.
While serving on a variety of caucus groups and committees, his focus has been on the economy and veterans' affairs.
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware)
This is her third term in Congress. She first served in the 115th class (2017-2019).
In Congress, Rochester works on legislation for healthcare, criminal justice and agriculture.
Rep. Cory Anthony Booker (D- New Jersey)
Booker was first elected to the 113th class (2013-2015).
Former lawyer, mayor and 2020 presidential contender, Booker’s focus is on criminal justice reform, ending mass incarceration and protecting the Affordable Care Act.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-New York)
This is Bowman's first term in Congress in the 117th class (2021-2023).
Before becoming a representative, Bowman was a middle school principal and teacher. Some of the key issues he ran on were education and replacing an incumbent that supported war and prisons.
Rep. Anthony Gregory Brown (D-Maryland)
Brown was first elected to the 115th Congress (2017-2019).
A retired Colonel in the United States Army Reserve, Brown works on legislation for equipping and training the military, veterans' affairs and transportation and infrastructure.
Rep. Cori Bush (D-Missouri)
The 117th class (2021-2023) is Bush’s first term.
Bush is the first Black woman and nurse to represent Missouri. She is also the first activist from the Black Lives Matter movement in Congress.
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