自1789年美国参议院成立以来，已有2000多人在参议院任职。但是只有12名是黑人，只有3名是黑人妇女，她们都没有一起服役过。
这种情况可能很快就会改变。马里兰州乔治王子县众议员李金浔、行政人员安吉拉·阿尔索布鲁克斯和众议员丽莎·布朗特罗彻斯特。)都在竞选参议院空缺席位，并希望在那里并肩作战。
“这是关于我们带来了什么，我们作为黑人女性带来了什么，这从来不是美国参议院一贯政策辩论的一部分，现在是时候了，”李在周日播出的美国广播公司新闻节目“本周”中说
2017年，未来的副总统卡玛拉·哈里斯成为第二位在参议院任职的黑人女性，24年前伊利诺伊州的第一位黑人女性卡罗尔·莫斯利·布劳恩宣誓就职。
去年，在黛安娜·范斯坦去世后，加州州长加文·纽瑟姆任命著名民主党倡导者、前劳工组织者拉蓬扎·巴特勒(Laphonza Butler)在范斯坦剩余的任期内任职。
李自1998年以来一直在美国众议院代表加利福尼亚州奥克兰市，他正在为目前由巴特勒担任的席位进行竞争激烈的初选。
“我在这所房子里已经很多年了。但现在是我去参议院成为100人之一的时候了，因为我真的相信我带来的观点和镜头是美国参议院所缺乏的。
李回忆起与莫斯利·布劳恩(Moseley Braun)的一次谈话，内容涉及在参议院代表所有观点和经验的重要性。
“(莫斯利·布劳恩)提到了非裔美国人和有色人种特有的某些疾病，例如狼疮，除非你从自己的背景和角度理解这些疾病，否则没有人会提出这些问题，”李说。“代表制带来的不仅是新思想、新经验和新解决方案——而且有助于加强整个国家，因为我们希望每个人都能参与这一民主。”
李的政治生涯始于为雪莉·齐索姆1972年的总统竞选工作。她认为是第一位当选国会议员的黑人女性齐索姆说服了她去登记投票。
“我不相信民主党人或共和党人理解我作为一个年轻单身母亲的需求和愿望。她说，‘听着，我们需要你的声音。我们需要你在里面...“我们需要你来帮忙改变现状，”李回忆道。“我看到她必须如何应对权力结构，以及每个人如何经常反对她。但她坚持到底，她很勇敢。”
初选民调显示，在3月5日的州初选之前，李落后于她的民主党众议员亚当·希夫、凯蒂·波特和共和党人史蒂夫·陈嘉炜，只有前两名候选人晋级秋季大选。
当被问及黑人女性在竞选公职时遇到的挑战时，李说这些挑战通常是系统性的。
“例如，当你考虑筹款时，我们必须为竞选活动提供公共资金，我们必须推翻(最高法院对)公民联合会的裁决，并从竞选活动中获得‘暗钱’。因为这不是一个公平的竞争环境，例如，当你看到黑人社区的财富差距时，”李说。雪莉·齐索姆提醒我的一件事是，这个系统并不是为那些长期被关在门外的人而建立和制造的。但正如玛娅·安杰洛博士所说，‘我们仍在崛起’，因此我们心中有克服这些障碍的愿望、激情和承诺。”
“这就是你在历史上看到的，黑人妇女克服这些障碍，为我们的民主而斗争，”李说。
在911袭击发生三天后，李明博可能是唯一一位投票反对军事授权入侵阿富汗的国会议员。她当时表示，她希望该国避免陷入更大的流血循环。
“我被称为叛徒。人们打我的电话，在语音信箱里留下枪声，这太可怕了。我必须有安全保障，死亡威胁以及对我和我家人人身安全的威胁势不可挡。然而，有时当你在公共生活中时，如果你是一名公务员，你就知道其中的风险，”李说。“你必须能够承受政治压力，这就是我想进入参议院的原因，因为未来几年参议院将会有一些激烈的辩论和斗争。事实上，当我知道这是正确的立场时，我不会退缩，即使这违背了我的政党。”
在马里兰州，Alsobrooks正在竞选即将退休的参议员Ben Cardin的席位。
Alsobrooks告诉ABC新闻:“我认识到联邦政府的力量，基础设施美元，我们一直在努力建立的医疗保健服务，我意识到在这些职位上有个人为他们所代表的人民和理解他们的人而努力奋斗是多么重要。”
在5月14日的初选中，她面临的对手是马里兰州众议员大卫·特隆(David Trone)，他是一位富有的自费候选人，但得到了马里兰州一半国会代表团的支持。
如果她赢得初选，她可以在大选中与广受欢迎的前共和党州长拉里·霍根(Larry Hogan)正面交锋，后者刚刚宣布加入竞选。
和李一样，Alsobrooks从个人背景方面描述了她的一些优势。
“我是这里第一位当选为检察官的女性，我是第一位当选为县行政长官的女性——这意味着我提出了非常不同的解决方案，它们不仅基于我的专业经验，而且基于我的生活经验，”Alsobrooks说。“我认为，让代表你的人像你一样生活，像他们所代表的人一样思考，并理解和分享他们所代表的人的关心和关注是很重要的。”
她说，自2010年与副总统哈里斯联系以来，Alsobrooks一直与他们关系密切。
谈到哈里斯时，她说:“我们发展的关系真的很好。“如果你想一想，作为旧金山有史以来第一位当选的(黑人女性)地方检察官，她在我之前经历过许多领域，是最年轻的地方检察官之一，我在这里也有同样的经历。”
当被问及她从哈里斯身上学到了什么时，Alsobrooks说:“在某件事情上你是第一个并不重要，重要的是你创造了某种记录并创造了某种道路，这样其他人也可以成功。”
“在你让别人成功之前，你不是真正的成功，”她说。
布朗特·罗切斯特在屋里与李并肩侍奉。2017年，她成为第一位在国会代表特拉华州的女性和黑人。
在这张2017年1月3日的档案照片中，威斯康星州的众议院议长·保罗·瑞安主持了众议院就职宣誓仪式...显示更多undefined
扎克·吉布森/美联社文件
“我一生中从未竞选过任何东西，”布朗特·罗切斯特告诉ABC新闻，她决定发起最初的竞选活动。“当我决定参加竞选时，我已经50多岁了，而且我刚刚丧偶……我说，‘你知道吗，我还活着，我还可以服务，我决定参加竞选，在为期六周的初选中，你知道，击败了五个男人。’"
布朗特·罗切斯特有望赢得11月的选举。如果当选，她将成为第一位在参议院代表特拉华州的女性和有色人种。
“我想到了小女孩们，我想到了那些已经丧偶或超过50岁的女性，”她说。“对我来说，能够代表并带来那些生活经验、专业经验和政策问题。我的意思是，我们知道黑人女性死于分娩的人数比白人女性多，而且学生贷款债务比白人女性多43%。”
“我真的不太想历史，因为你知道，我的意图是做出改变，对人们的生活产生影响，”布朗特·罗切斯特补充说，“如果有一个创造历史的时刻，那就太好了。”
这位特拉华州女议员与乔·拜登总统关系密切。她在他2019年竞选白宫时支持他，并担任他连任竞选的全国联合主席。
“当我父亲因白血病意外去世时，拜登总统打来电话，当时我们都在临终关怀医院照顾父亲...他和第一夫人来教堂参观了45分钟，并与我们在一起，”布朗特·罗切斯特回忆道。“我把一切都联系在一起...但他看着我的脸，说‘孩子，一切都会好的’，这让我失去了理智。我只是倒在他的怀里哭了。”
如果这些候选人中只有两人获胜，他们可能会创造更多的历史，因为参议院从未有多名黑人女性同时任职。
“我为女议员李金浔感到骄傲，我为女议员丽莎·布朗特·罗彻斯特感到骄傲。她们是真正充满活力的女性。他们热情洋溢，目标明确，所以能在同一年参加比赛是一种荣幸。
李说她已经和Alsobrooks和Blunt Rochester谈过他们一起服役的历史。
她说:“我们说‘一个人是不够的’——我们所有人都需要被选入美国参议院。
布朗特·罗切斯特说，与和她有共同生活经历的女性一起工作“总是一件好事，尤其是在困难时期。”
布朗特·罗彻斯特说:“你可以想想此时此刻的雪莉·齐索姆，她说，‘如果他们不给你座位，你就带一把折叠椅来。’“嗯，也许我们会有很多折叠椅。”
3 Black women aim for historic Senate wins in 2024: 'My intention is to make a difference'
More than 2,000 people have served in the U.S. Senate since it was established in 1789. But just 12 have been Black -- and only three have been Black women, none of whom have ever served together.
That could soon change. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Prince George County, Maryland, Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) are all running for open Senate seats and hope to serve there alongside one another.
"It's about what we bring, what we bring as Black women, that has never been part of the consistent policy debate in the United States Senate, and it's time," Lee told ABC News in a segment that aired Sunday on "This Week."
In 2017, future Vice President Kamala Harris became just the second Black woman to serve in the Senate, 24 years after the first, Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois, was sworn in.
Last year, following Sen. Dianne Feinstein's death, California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler, a prominent Democratic advocate and former labor organizer, to serve the remainder of Feinstein's term.
Lee, who has represented Oakland, California, in the U.S. House since 1998, is running in a very competitive primary for the seat currently held by Butler.
"I have been in the House for many years. But it's time for me to go to the Senate to be one of 100 because I truly believe that the perspective that I bring, the lens that I bring, is lacking in the United States Senate," she said.
Lee recalled a conversation with Moseley Braun about the importance of representing all views and experiences in the Senate.
"[Moseley Braun] mentioned certain diseases that are unique to African Americans and people of color, lupus for example, no one would bring these issues up unless you understand them from your background and perspective," Lee said. "What happens with representation is that not only new ideas, new experiences and new solutions come to the table -- but you help strengthen the entire country because we want everyone to be able to participate in this democracy."
Lee began her political career working for Shirley Chisholm's 1972 presidential campaign. She credits Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, with convincing her to register to vote.
"I didn't believe that the Democrats or Republicans were understanding the needs and the aspirations of myself as a young single mom. And she said, 'Look, we need your voice. We need you on the inside ... we need you to come help shake things up,'" Lee recalled. "I saw how she had to deal with the power structure and how oftentimes everyone was against her. But she stayed the course and she was bold."
Primary polls show Lee trailing her fellow Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter and Republican Steve Garvey ahead of the state's primary on March 5, with only the top two candidates advancing to the general election in the fall.
Asked about the challenges Black women encounter in running for office, Lee said they are frequently systemic.
"When you look at fundraising, for example, we have got to get to public financing of campaigns, we've got to overturn [the Supreme Court ruling in] Citizens United and get the 'dark money' out of campaigns. Because it's not a level playing field, when you look at the wealth gap, for example, in the Black community," Lee said. "The system oftentimes, and that's one thing Shirley Chisholm reminded me of, it's not built and made for the participation of certain people who have been shut out for so long. But as Dr. Maya Angelou said, 'And still we rise,' and so we have within us the desire and the passion, and the commitment to overcome these obstacles."
"And that's what you've seen historically, with Black women, overcoming these obstacles and fighting for our democracy," Lee said.
Lee is perhaps best known as the sole member of Congress to vote against the military authorization for the invasion of Afghanistan, three days after the September 11th attacks. She said at the time that she wanted the country to avoid becoming entangled in a larger cycle of bloodshed.
"I was called a traitor. People were calling my telephone, leaving gun shots on voicemail, it was terrible. I had to have security and the death threats and the threats to my personal safety and my family was overwhelming. However, sometimes when you're in public life, if you're a public servant, you know the risks," Lee said. "You have to be able to withstand the political pressure, and that's why I want to be in the Senate, because there are gonna be some hard debates and some hard fights in the Senate in the next few years. And in fact, I don't back down when I know that that's the right position, even if it goes against my party."
In Maryland, Alsobrooks is running for the seat held by retiring Sen. Ben Cardin.
"I recognize the power of the federal government, the infrastructure dollars, the health care access that we've been working to build here, and I realized how important it is to have individuals in those positions who are fighting hard for the people they represent and who understand them," Alsobrooks told ABC News.
She is up against Rep. David Trone, D-Md., a wealthy, self-financed candidate in the May 14 primary, but has the endorsement of half of Maryland’s congressional delegation.
If she wins the primary, she could go head-to-head with popular former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in the general election, who just announced he was entering the race.
Like Lee, Alsobrooks described some of her strengths in terms of her personal background.
"I was the first woman elected as prosecutor here, I was the first woman to be elected as county executive -- and what that has meant is that I have brought to bear solutions that are very different, they are based not only on my professional experience but lived experience," Alsobrooks said. "I think it's important to have people representing you who live like you, who can think like the people they represent and who understand and share the cares and concerns of the people they represent."
Alsobrooks has been very close with Vice President Harris ever since they connected in 2010, she said.
"It has been a really wonderful relationship that we have developed," she said of Harris. "She's been in many of the spaces before me, if you think about it, as the first-ever [Black woman] district attorney elected in San Francisco, one of the youngest, the same experience that I've had here."
Asked what lessons she's taken away from Harris, Alsobrooks said, "It is not as important that you're the first at something, it is that you create the kind of record and create the kind of roadway so that others can be successful too."
"You are not truly successful until you've made someone else successful," she said.
Blunt Rochester serves alongside Lee in the House. In 2017, she became the first woman and Black person to represent the state of Delaware in Congress.
"I had never run for anything in my life," Blunt Rochester told ABC News about her decision to launch that original campaign. "I was over 50 when I decided to run, and I had just been widowed… and I said, 'You know what, I'm still alive, I can still serve and I decided to run for office and in a six week primary, you know, beat five guys.'"
Blunt Rochester is favored to win November's election. If elected, she would become the first woman and person of color to represent Delaware in the Senate.
"I think about the little girls, I think about those women who have been widowed or who are over 50," she said. "For me to be able to represent and bring those lived experiences, the professional experiences, the policy issues. I mean, we know that Black women die from childbirth more than their white counterparts [and] have 43% more student loan debt than our white counterparts."
"I don't really think about the history so much because, you know, my intention is to make a difference and to have an impact on people's lives," Blunt Rochester added, "and should there be a history making moment, that's great."
The Delaware congresswoman shares a close relationship with President Joe Biden. She endorsed him the day he launched his White House bid in 2019 and serves as a national co-chair of his reelection campaign.
"When my dad unexpectedly passed away from leukemia, President Biden called when we were all taking care of dad during hospice ... He and the first lady came to the visitation at the church for 45 minutes and spent time with us," Blunt Rochester reflected. "I was holding it all together ... But there was something about him, looking at my face, and saying, 'It's going to be OK, kid,' and that just made me lose it. I just fell into his arms crying."
If just two of these candidates win, they could make even more history, as the Senate has never had multiple Black women serve at the same time.
"I'm very proud of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, I'm very proud of Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester. They are just really dynamic women. They're warm, they're purposeful and so it's been an honor to run in the same year," Alsobrooks said.
Lee said she's spoken to both Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester about the history they could make serving together.
"We say 'one is not enough' -- all of us need to be elected to the United States Senate," she said.
Blunt Rochester said working alongside women who share some of her lived experiences "is always a good thing, particularly when times are hard."
"You think about Shirley Chisholm in this moment, where she said, 'If they don't give you a seat at the table, you bring a folding chair,'" Blunt Rochester said. "Well, maybe we'll have many folding chairs."
