Two Black Women Make History in U.S. Senate, Here’s How They’ll Fight For Democracy

Though a woman of color will not be heading to the White House this year, history was still made with the election of Angela Alsobrooks (D) in Maryland and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) in Delaware – marking the first time ever that two Black women will serve together in the U.S. Senate.

As she was running for Senate, Blunt Rochester spoke with Democracy Docket about her dedication to protecting democracy — no matter how hard it may be.

“Even in this present moment, as I think about the Senate, some people might not know on Jan. 6 I was one of the people trapped in the gallery,” Blunt Rochester said. “I saw how close we were to losing it. I mean, I could hear the gunshots on one side. I could see down on the other side — Capitol Police barricading that door, and we could hear the banging, and all I could do in that moment was pray.”

She said at that time and the years following, “I recommitted to our democracy because I just know how important it is. And so in the Senate, I will fight for voting rights. I will fight for our reproductive freedoms.”

Alsobrooks also talked to Democracy Docket over the summer and explained that while she wants to fight for federal change on issues like reproductive rights, it’s also important at the state level to push for more ballot measures.

 “Ballot initiatives give the public the opportunity to be heard and to express their desires and values, and so they’re very important,” Alsobrooks said.

Maryland, which she will soon represent, just approved a ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

Alsobrooks also expressed how important it is for voters to see themselves represented in their government and that it’s vital more women and other diverse candidates get elected in the future.

“I think it’s important for all of us to look in the Senate and see ourselves — [senators] of every race, of every gender and every background — and what I believe that does is allow us to have the kind of policies that are complete,” Alsobrooks said.

Both said they’ll seek to expand ballot access, with Blunt Rochester specifically explaining that increasing voter turnout through mobilization and education is key.

“We want people to see their connection to the vote, the connection from clean water to the vote, the connection from your reproductive freedoms to your vote,” Blunt Rochester said. “Our goal is to encourage people and to motivate them and to give them the actual opportunities to vote.”

Although Republicans gained control of the Senate in this election, Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester still made history and have the potential to continue breaking new ground in the future.