Black women political candidates across the nation are up for office during the upcoming midterms, with dozens running in competitive races and potentially shattering glass ceilings.
News 6 political analyst, Jim Clark, said ballots may look more diverse this time.
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“I think that this is the year of the woman across the board,” Clark said.
According to the Center for American Women and Politics, Black women have set new records as candidates for the U.S. House, U.S Senate and governorships.
The center’s data includes only major-party candidates.
At least 134 Black women were major-party candidates for the U.S. House. 105 were Democrats, and 29 were Republicans.
At least 22 Black women were major-party candidates for the U.S. Senate. 16 were Democrats, and six were Republicans.
At least 12 Black women were major-party candidates for governor. 11 were Democrats, and one was a Republican.
“I think historically, Black women have been clearly underrepresented in the senate, in the house, in the governorships,” Clark said. “This may be the year that changes.”
Democratic Florida Congresswoman Val Demings is facing off against longtime Republican Sen. Marco Rubio.
If she wins the seat, she will be the third Black woman to secure a U.S. Senate seat. Currently, there are no Black women serving in the U.S. Senate since Vice President Kamala Harris’ ascension.
There has never been a Black woman governor in the United States, but Democrat Stacey Abrams hopes to change that in Georgia.
“The number of Black women running in the Republican Party is very, very small,” Clark said.
There has been an increase in diversity in the GOP.
With republican congressional candidates like Jennifer Ruth green, from Indiana.
Although the GOP’s base is still predominantly white, Clark said we are still setting records for African American women.
News 6 reporter Treasure Roberts spoke with American actress Kerry Washington about Black women in politics. Washington is known for amplifying the importance of voting.
She said all Americans deserve to see themselves represented in our government, adding that she hopes to see more Black women holding office in the future.
“Black women have been solving problems at home forever we’ve been the fixers in our community forever. Olivia Pope is somebody we love because we trusted her as a Black woman to fix what needed to be fixed,” Washington said.
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