Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester made history in 2017 as the first woman and first African-American to represent Delaware in Congress. Now, she is seeking to make history again by becoming the state’s first African-American female U.S. senator.
“Representing the First State has been the greatest honor of my life,” said Blunt Rochester. “I am excited to continue representing and serving all of Delaware, from Wilmington and New Castle County to Kent County and Sussex County, in the United States Senate.”
The 61-year-old lawmaker announced her Senate candidacy in a powerful video released on Wednesday. Titled “Bright Hope,” the ad highlights her upbringing in a local church where her grandmother worshipped.
“I am running to represent Delaware in the United States Senate, filled with a Bright Hope for our future,” she says in the video. “A more perfect union is not a destination. It is a journey. Let’s embark on it together.”
Blunt Rochester reflected on her experience praying in the House gallery on January 6, which she described as her “worst day” but also one of her “proudest moments.” She also spoke about the unexpected loss of her husband, Charles, in 2014, which motivated her to run for Congress.
“And then he was gone. And for a while, I was lost too,” she recalled. “But Charles always said, ‘You have to get your mind right.’ So I did. I decided to run for Congress.”
Promoting a platform focused on jobs and healthcare, the three-term Democrat is seeking to fill the seat that will be vacated by Sen. Tom Carper. Carper, who recently announced his retirement, has endorsed Blunt Rochester, who previously worked for him when he was a congressman and governor.
Blunt Rochester has an impressive background, having served as Delaware’s secretary of labor, deputy secretary of Health and Social Services, and state personnel director. She currently serves as the co-chair of President Biden’s re-election campaign.
If elected, Blunt Rochester will join the ranks of only two other African-American women who have served in the U.S. Senate: Carol Mosley Braun of Illinois and Vice President Kamala Harris.
In addition to Blunt Rochester, at least three other Black women are running for Senate in Democratic primaries in 2024, including Rep. Barbara Lee in California, Angela Alsobrooks, a county executive in Maryland, and Pamela Pugh, a state education board president in Michigan.
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