New Report Highlights a Decade of Gains and Persistent Gaps for Black Women in U.S. Politics

The Higher Heights Leadership Fund, in partnership with the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, today released Black Women in American Politics 2025, their most recent report examining the progress, setbacks, and opportunities for Black women’s political representation across the United States.

The report’s release comes on the heels of former Vice President Kamala Harris’ announcement about her path forward in public life, a moment that underscores the continued impact of Black women’s leadership at the highest levels of government.

The 2024 election cycle marked a historic milestone: for the first time in history, a Black woman, Vice President Kamala Harris, ran at the top of a major-party presidential ticket. Though Harris did not win the presidency, her candidacy energized voters, mobilized grassroots organizers, and underscored the growing influence of Black women in U.S. politics.

For the past decade, this report has served as the most comprehensive resource on Black women in elected office, documenting a steady rise in representation while underscoring persistent gaps at every level of government.

Key Advances

• Record state legislative representation: Black women hit a record high in 2025, signaling progress in down-ballot representation.
• Historic Senate representation: For the first time, two Black women, Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), are serving simultaneously in the U.S. Senate.
• Mayoral gains in major cities: Black women were elected or appointed as mayors in Philadelphia (Cherelle Parker), Fort Wayne (Sharon Tucker), and Oakland (Barbara Lee).

“Black women continue to do what we have always done, lead, mobilize, and shape the future of this country,” said Glynda C. Carr, president and CEO of the Higher Heights Leadership Fund. “From the legacy of Shirley Chisholm to the ‘Kamala Effect,’ Black women have pushed the boundaries of what is possible in politics. This report is both a celebration of our progress and a call to action. We cannot rest until Black women’s representation truly reflects our power in this democracy.”

Despite these gains, the report reveals that significant inequities remain. No Black woman has ever served as a U.S. governor, and 34 states have yet to elect a Black woman to any statewide elective executive office. As of July 2025, there are no Black women serving in federal executive office or in the presidential Cabinet.

“Our data makes it clear: while the last decade has seen historic progress for Black women in politics, the work is far from done,” said Chelsea Hill, report author and director of data at CAWP. “Representation matters, not just for breaking barriers, but for shaping policy and ensuring that government reflects the people it serves. Black women belong at every table where decisions are made.”

By the Numbers: Key Findings

• Congress: 29 Black women serve as voting members, including a record two in the Senate, as well as two non-voting members.
• State Legislatures: Black women hold 5.4% of all state legislative seats. They reached a record high in 2025 as a result of election 2024.
• Mayoral Leadership: Black women lead eight of the 100 most populous U.S. cities.
• Candidacy Success: 63% of Black women congressional nominees won their races in 2024, outpacing win rates for both women and men across race and ethnicity.

Looking ahead, the report highlights critical opportunities in 2025 and 2026 to expand Black women’s political power. In Virginia, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears (R) is running to become the first Black woman governor in U.S. history, and over 200 statewide executive seats will be up for election in 2026.

“This is about building pipelines, dismantling barriers, and investing in the next generation of Black women leaders,” Carr added. “We will continue to harness our collective power to ensure that Black women are not just leading movements, they’re winning elections and governing at every level.”

The Black Women in American Politics 2025 report is part of a decade-long collaboration between the Higher Heights Leadership Fund and CAWP. To read the full report and explore interactive data, visit Higher Heights Leadership Fund and CAWP.