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CBC Roundup: Welcome to the new members of the Congressional Black Caucus! [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-01-02

In the 119th Congress, the 62 members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) will make up 27% of the US House of Representatives and 4% of the US Senate. While there is still an inordinately long way to go as to the Senate, it’s heartening to see the progress as to representation in the House. No matter their absolute numbers of members in Congress, members of the CBC have always led in disproportion to their numbers, in being the conscience of the Congress. Let’s have their backs by supporting them and amplifying their messages and by electing more CBC members in the coming years.

In this CBC Roundup, I’ll introduce you to the 6 of the 9 new members I haven’t in the first CBC Roundups, having already covered Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks (MD) and Congresswoman-elect Lateefah Simon (CA-12). In alphabetical order by State, they are:

1. Congressman-elect Shomari Figures was elected to the newly re-drawn AL-2 (see also — Alabama's dark history is reflected in the fight for a new House seat). This is a nice article about Congressman-elect Shomari Figures — Alabama's Newly Elected Black Member of Congress Stands On Shoulders Of Family. :

2. Congressman-elect Cleo Fields was elected to newly re-drawn LA-6, Republican Garrett Graves, retiring after re-districting. Rep.-elect Cleo Fields previously represented LA-4 from 1993 to 1996, retiring from Congress when LA-4 was re-districted to become a majority white district. Current Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson is the Rep. for LA-4. :

3. Congressman-elect Wesley Bell was elected to MO-1, defeating Congresswoman Cori Bush in the Democratic primary. MO-1 has elected Democrats since 1948, with William Lacy "Bill" Clay (served 1969-2001), one of the founding members of the CBC, being elected as Missouri’s first Black member of the US House of Representatives from Missouri in 1968.:

In 2018, Congressman-elect Wesley Bell was elected as St. Louis County, Missouri’s first Black county prosecutor. County executive Sam Page declared December 6th, Wesley Bell day. The video below highlights St. Louis County Prosecutor, Wesley Bell’s accomplishments during his term in that office.

4. Congressman-elect Herb Conaway was elected to NJ-3, as the first Black person to represent the district, replacing Congressman Andy Kim, who relinquished his seat to run for and win as US Senator from NJ. Rep.-elect Herb Conaway is both a M.D. and a J.D. and has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1998 where he represented New Jersey’s 7th District. I apologize for being remiss in my CBC Roundup from Dec. 12 when I stated that NJ had only elected 3 Black people to the US Congress. Congressman-elect Herb Conaway is the 4th (that’s still too few).

5. Congresswoman-elect Janelle Bynum elected to OR-5, as the first Black member of the US Congress from Oregon, defeating Republican, Lori Chavez-DeRemer. She has served in Oregon’s State Legislature since 2016:

6. Congressman-elect Sylvester Turner, elected to TX-18, after the death of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and interim election of Congresswoman Erica Lee Carter (see also CBC Roundup: TX-18 - Remembering Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee & its founder. Rep- Barbara Jordan). Rep-elect Turner served in the Texas State Legislature from 1989-2016 and as Mayor of Houston, TX from 2016-2024. During his time in the Texas State House of Representatives, he was chairman of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus.:

I’m looking forward to seeing all of these new CBC members sworn into office on Jan. 3, 2025 and following them in future CBC Roundups.

This week’s news from the CBC

Congress has not been in session. They return tomorrow, Jan. 3.

Sunday (Dec 29), President Jimmy Carter, passed away. I’ll be including tributes from individual members of the CBC in the comments.

x Today, we extend our heartfelt prayers to the family and loved ones of former President Jimmy Carter.



President Carter was a loving father and husband, naval officer, Nobel Prize recipient, advocate and humanitarian who lived a life of service to others.



May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/KpxYY65OCe — The Black Caucus (@TheBlackCaucus) December 30, 2024

Tuesday/Wednesday (Dec 31/Jan 1): New Year’s greetings will be posted in the comments.

Wednesday (Jan 1), a domestic terrorist plowed through Bourbon Street in New Orleans, LA, killing 15 people at the time of this writing. Below is the reaction from Congressman Troy A. Carter (LA-2).

x I commend the swift actions of the New Orleans Police Department and federal law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to neutralize the threat and secure the area. Their bravery and dedication prevented further loss of life. As we continue to learn more about this tragedy,… — Congressman Troy A. Carter (@RepTroyCarter) January 1, 2025

x New Orleans, the @SugarBowlNola has been postposed to tomorrow, and a security sweep of the Superdome has been conducted. We are using every resource possible to assure that residents and visitors of our city are safe. The victims of last night’s attack remain in my prayers and I… — Congressman Troy A. Carter (@RepTroyCarter) January 1, 2025

x Following last night’s mass casualty, @thebloodcenter is hosting blood donation drives Janurary 2-3 from 10 AM - 5 PM at 2609 Canal Street. Donating blood saves lives; please do so if you are able. @NewOrleansEMS pic.twitter.com/8TPANXBxOZ — Congressman Troy A. Carter (@RepTroyCarter) January 1, 2025

In the coming weeks I’ll be leading with profiles of CBC members. I haven’t decided the order yet. It will be a surprise!

Reminder: The CBC Roundup is a weekly series, published on Thursdays at 9 AM ET. Members of the CBC are on the frontline of defending our democracy and deserve our full support, so please share widely. For daily updates, see my CBC comments in the Abbreviated Pundit Roundup.

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