Black women running for office have been largely successful in their campaigns, recording an all-time high in the number of Black women serving in state legislatures this year, according to a new report.
Released as part of the “Black Women in American Politics 2025” research study, according to researchers at Higher Heights, a record number of 402 Black women held a position in state legislature at some point this year. The number has almost doubled from a decade ago, when 240 Black women served in state legislatures.
During the 2024 general election, Black women also made significant gains in representation in Congress. According to the report, 63% of Black women running in congressional nominations won their contests, recording the most wins amongst multiple groups.
In comparison, all women running as candidates won 49% of the seats they were running for, while men running as candidates won approximately 53% across every race and ethnicity.
Overall, Black women in Congress hold 31 seats—a rate that has doubled since the 17 seats they held in 2014. Black women also lead 8 of the 100 most populated U.S. cities as mayors.
“Black women continue to do what we have always done, lead, mobilize, and shape the future of this country. From the legacy of Shirley Chisholm to the ‘Kamala Effect,’ Black women have pushed the boundaries of what is possible in politics,” said the president and CEO of the Higher Heights Leadership Fund, Glynda C. Carr, per a press release. “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 the significant gains, the report revealed that there is still some work that needs to be done. As of now, no Black woman has ever been elected as U.S. governor, while 34 states have never elected a Black woman to a statewide elective executive office.
For this year, a number of Black women are running for statewide elective executive and state legislative office positions. Both New Jersey and Virginia are holding elections by November.
Politicians Vonetta Hawkins, Dione Johnson, Jessica Ford, Tennille McCoy, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Shanique Speight, Candi King, Kiesha Nicole Preston and Jeion A. Ward are all running for positions in the states for a Representative role in their respective districts.
“This is about building pipelines, dismantling barriers, and investing in the next generation of Black women leaders,” said Carr. “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.”
