BLACK WOMEN EXPAND THEIR REPRESENTATION IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

BROOKLYN, NY (November 9, 2022) - Today, Higher Heights for America PAC, the nation’s leading political action committee solely dedicated to electing more Black women, is celebrating historic wins by Black women running for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Four trailblazing Black women were elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time yesterday, including Congresswomen-elect Summer Lee (PA-12), Valerie Foushee (NC-4), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), and Emilia Sykes (OH-13) – all of whom made history as part of the record-breaking number of Black women who ran for Congress this election cycle.

“Black women have always understood the urgency of participating in our democracy and, when they see a lack of representation, they run to fill that void,” said Glynda Carr, President & CEO of Higher Heights PAC. “From the record-breaking number of Black women who ran for office this year to the unwavering Black women who continue to show up at the polls, yesterday’s results represent how a crucial demographic feels about the direction our country has been heading,” “These victories make it very clear that Black women will not stand by and allow the degradation of our civil rights to continue. Having endorsed each of these candidates, Higher Heights PAC is elated to see these exceptional women win their elections last night. Our organization remains grounded in its mission to support the advancement of Black women candidates in order to cultivate greater representation at all levels of government.”

The organization is also celebrating the 23 Black women who were re-elected, including:

• Alma Adams (NC-12)

• Joyce Beatty (OH-03)

• Cori Bush (MO-1)

• Shontel Brown (OH-11)

• Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20)

• Yvette Clarke (NY-09)

• Robin Kelly (IL-02)

• Barbara Lee (CA-12)

• Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18)

• Lucy McBath (GA-7)

• Gwen Moore (WI-04)

• Eleanor Holmes Norton (Washington, DC)

• Ilhan Omar (MN-5)

• Stacey Plaskett (U.S. Virgin Islands)

• Ayanna Pressley (MA-7)

• Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-At Large)

• Terri Sewell (AL-07)

• Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)

• Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

• Maxine Waters (FL-43)

• Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)

• Nikema Williams (GA-5)

• Frederica Wilson (FL-24)

Higher Heights PAC is continuing to monitor results, as votes continue to be counted in key races including for Rep. Jahana Hayes (CT-5) and California’s 37th district.

Black women founded Higher Heights PAC to close the representation gap in all levels of government, and it continues to take significant steps toward building collective political power through Black women’s elected leadership. Despite the record-breaking number of those who ran during the general election, Black women remain severely underrepresented - comprising 7.8% of the US population, while currently making up less than 5% of all elected officeholders. Last month, Higher Heights released a #BlackWomenRun database of the over 500 Black women candidates who ran for office during midterms, in hopes of providing voters with the resources needed to make informed decisions at the polls.