History-Making Midterms History-Making Midterms

New York - House Minority Leader, U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries is the first Black leader of a major political party in Congress. The Democratic caucus elected him as successor to Nancy Pelosi, who broke barriers in 2007 as the first woman elected speaker Benvolio

WRITTEN BY Lynn Nichols

of the House. Jeffries has represented New York’s 8th district since 2013. Before he was elected to Congress, he served for six years in the New York State Assembly. Jeffries is known for promoting open communication with his constituents, including through his annual State of the District address. Widely regarded as a centrist in the House, he has co-sponsored several bills working with Republicans, including the Veterans and Family Information Act and the Patents for Humanity Act of 2022. Jeffries is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and previously served as CBC whip. His legislative priorities include intellectual property law and access to affordable housing.

Summer Lee

Pennsylvania - U.S. Representative Summer Lee is the first Black woman to represent Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives. In 2018, she became the first Black woman from southwestern Pennsylvania elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, serving for two terms. She won two contests in November — the U.S. House race in the 12th district, as well as reelection to the Pennsylvania House in the 34th district — and ultimately resigned to accept the U.S. House seat. Lee graduated from the Howard University School of Law. She has been endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. While a member of the Pennsylvania House, Lee co-sponsored legislation to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour and prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of natural and protective Black hairstyles. Her other legislative priorities include reproductive rights and disability justice.

Wes Moore

Maryland - Governor

U.S. Army captain, author and philanthropist Wes Moore is the first Black governor of Maryland and the third Black governor elected in the United States. His book “The Other Wes Moore” received national acclaim for contrasting the author’s experiences and successes with the life of another Black man from Maryland, also named Wes Moore, in a narrative which emphasizes the importance of personal role models and community support. Moore studied as a Rhodes Scholar, served in the Army from 1998 to 2014 and worked as CEO of the New York City charity, The Robin Hood Foundation from 2017 to 2021. He supports enacting measures against redlining and housing inequity, protecting the right to abortion in the Maryland Constitution and federally expanding healthcare benefits for wounded veterans.

Raphael Warnock

Georgia - U.S. Senator

After a nail-biting runoff during the 2020 election, the Rev. Raphael Warnock became the first Black American to represent Georgia in the Senate. Because he won his seat in a special election, Warnock soon faced a second race, this time against Republican Herschel Walker. Despite Walker’s multiple scandals, polling remained close until Warnock finally won his second consecutive runoff with 50.4% of the vote. Before running for office, Warnock was an advocate for social justice through his role as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, the church previously led by Martin Luther King Jr. Warnock is a prominent voice in the Black protest tradition of today, who was once arrested for his leadership role in a demonstration to expand Medicaid in Georgia. As a self-identified “pro-choice pastor,” he has supported abortion access and marriage equality, while advocating against gun violence and capital punishment.