This year a record number of black Americans are running for office. In total, across congressional and statewide elections, more than 100 black politicians are seeking office. There are 83 black Republicans and Democrats vying for positions in the House. Among them is Utah’s Mia Love, who would become the first black Republican woman elected to Congress. The previous high for black candidates seeking positions in the House was 73 in 2012. Here are some races to watch.
Mia Love
If she wins, Love will be the first black Republican woman elected to Congress.
Race: U.S. House of Representatives, Utah’s 4th District
Party: Republican
Terri Sewell
Sewell, who is the current congresswoman for Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, is the first black woman to serve in the Alabama congressional delegation.
Race: Re-election to U.S. House of Representatives, Alabama’s 7th District
Party: Democratic
Jesse Smith
Before running for office, Smith served about 14 years on active duty in the U.S. Army.
Race: U.S. House of Representatives, Alabama’s 3rd District
Party: Democratic
Erick Wright
Wright has a bachelor’s degree in risk management from Troy University and a master’s degree in public administration from Texas Southern University.
Race: U.S. House of Representatives, Alabama’s 2nd District
Party: Democratic
Bonnie Watson Coleman
The current state assemblywoman, Coleman has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1998.
Race: U.S. House of Representatives, New Jersey’s 12th District
Party: Democratic
Brenda Lawrence
Lawrence is the current mayor of Southfield, Mich.
Race: U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan’s 14th District
Party: Democratic
Alma Adams
Adams was the first African American woman elected to the Greensboro City School Board in North Carolina. She also served on the Greensboro City Council until she was appointed to the North Carolina General Assembly in 1994.
Race: U.S. House of Representatives, North Carolina’s 12th District
Party: Democratic
Stacey Plaskett
A well-known attorney in her home of St. Croix, Plaskett received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. She has worked as a prosecutor in New York City and as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.
Race: U.S. Virgin Islands delegate in Congress
Party: Democratic
Cory Booker
Booker became New Jersey’s first African-American senator in 2013. He was elected to the Senate after two terms as mayor of Newark.
Race: Re-election to U.S. Senate
Party: Democratic
Nina Turner
Turner is the current minority whip for the Ohio Senate and state senator for the 25th District.
Race: Ohio secretary of state
Party: Democratic
Anthony Brown
Brown is currently Maryland’s lieutenant governor. If he wins this election, he will become the state’s first African-American governor.
Race: Governor of Maryland
Party: Democratic
Will Hurd
Hurd is a former Central Intelligence Agency operations officer.
Race: U.S. House of Representatives, Texas’ 23rd District
Party: Republican
Steve Horsford
Horsford was elected to Congress as the first representative of Nevada’s newly created 4th Congressional District and is the first African American to serve in Nevada’s federal delegation. He is also a The Root 100 honoree this year.
Race: Re-election to U.S. House of Representatives, Nevada’s 4th District
Party: Democratic
Garry Cobb
Cobb once played for the Philadelphia Eagles. He has also worked as a sports radio announcer and commentator.
Race: U.S. House of Representatives, New Jersey’s 1st District
Party: Republican
Micah Edmond
A black, Jewish Republican, Edmond is a former Marine officer and congressional aide.
Race: U.S. House of Representatives, Virginia’s 8th District
Party: Republican
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