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Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
There is one African American woman currently serving in the California State Senate, Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Ladera Heights).
It’s the same in the U.S. Senate.
In October of 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) to complete the term of Sen. Dianne Feinstein after she passed away in September 2023. Butler will likely be replaced in January by Adam Schiff, who is projected to win the seat after the Nov. 5 general election.
Now, two more Black women are on pace to become California State Senators.
In the United States Senate, two Black women have already won seats. Lisa Blunt-Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland will be going to Capitol Hill in January after winning their respective U.S. Senate races.
It will be the first time in U.S., history that two Black women have served in the Senate at the same time.
“It is remarkable to think that in two years, America will celebrate is 250th birthday and in all those years, there has been more than 2000 people who have served in the United States Senate and only three have looked like me,” said Alsobrooks in her victory speech on Nov. 5.
“So, I want to salute all of those who came before me, who made it possible for me to stand on this stage tonight, whose sacrifice and stories I will continue to carry with me,” added Alsobrooks.
In Southern California, as of Nov. 9, Laura Richardson leads Michelle Chambers with 107,255 votes to 103 638 votes in Senate District 35. Both women are Democrats. The 35th Senate District 35 encompasses an area in South L.A. County, including parts of Inglewood, Compton, San Pedro, Hawthorne, and Carson.
That seat is currently held by California Legislative Black Caucus vice chair Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood), who terms out in December and is running for lieutenant Governor in 2026.
Richardson served in the California State Assembly in 2006-2007 before she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she served from 2007 to 2013.
