List of African-American United States representatives facts for kids

Joseph Rainey (left) was the first African American to serve in the U.S. House; Shirley Chisholm (right) was the first African-American woman elected to the chamber.

The United States House of Representatives has had 157 elected African-American members, of whom 151 have been representatives from U.S. states and 6 have been delegates from U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. The House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral United States Congress, which is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the term "African American" includes all individuals who identify with one or more nationalities or ethnic groups originating in any of the black racial groups of Africa. The term is generally used for Americans with at least partial ancestry in any of the original peoples of sub-Saharan Africa. During the founding of the federal government, African Americans were consigned to a status of second-class citizenship or enslaved. No African American served in federal elective office before the ratification in 1870 of the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Fifteenth Amendment prohibits the federal and state governments from denying any citizen the right to vote because of that citizen's race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Joseph Rainey was the first African-American representative to be seated in the U.S. House. He served South Carolina's 1st congressional district beginning in 1870 during the Reconstruction era following the American Civil War. The first African-American woman to serve as a representative was Shirley Chisholm from New York's 12th congressional district in 1969 during the Civil Rights Movement.

Many African-American members of the House of Representatives serve majority-minority districts. Some of these congressional districts are gerrymandered, limiting serious challenges to their re-election, and limiting their abilities to represent a larger, more diverse constituency. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 includes restrictions on the ability of States to diminish minority representation during redistricting. In the elections of 2016 and 2018, an increasing number of non-majority-minority districts have elected racial minority representatives.

Overall, 31 of the 50 U.S. states, plus the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia, have elected an African American to represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives, with Rhode Island being the most recent to elect its first (in 2023); out of these, 23 states, plus U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia, have elected an African-American woman to represent them in the U.S. House. Illinois's 1st congressional district has the longest continuous streak of electing African-American representatives, a tendency that has occurred from 1928 to the present. There currently are 58 African-American representatives and two African-American delegates in the United States House of Representatives, representing 29 states, plus the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. Most are members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

List of states represented by African Americans

Reconstruction and early post-Reconstruction era, 1870–1887

Political party

      Republican

Representative			Congressional district	Took office	Left office	Party	Congress	Former slave?	Notes
		Joseph Rainey (1832–1887)	South Carolina's 1st	December 12, 1870	March 3, 1879	Republican	41st (1869–1871)	Yes	Lost reelection
							THRU
							45th (1877–1879)
		Jefferson F. Long (1836–1901)	Georgia's 4th	January 16, 1871	March 3, 1871	Republican	41st (1869–1871)	Yes	Retired
		Robert C. De Large (1842–1874)	South Carolina's 2nd	March 4, 1871	January 24, 1873	Republican	42nd (1871–1873)	No	Unseated in 1873 due to a contested election that involved Christopher C. Bowen, the previous seat holder.
		Robert B. Elliott (1842–1884)	South Carolina's 3rd	March 4, 1871	November 1, 1874	Republican	42nd (1871–1873)	No	Resigned
							43rd (1873–1875)
		Benjamin S. Turner (1825–1894)	Alabama's 1st	March 4, 1871	March 3, 1873	Republican	42nd (1871–1873)	Yes	Lost reelection
		Josiah T. Walls (1842–1905)	Florida's at-large	March 4, 1871	January 29, 1873	Republican	42nd (1871–1873)	Yes	Unseated in 1873 and 1876 due to contested elections that involved Silas L. Niblack and Jesse Finley, respectively.
				March 4, 1873	March 3, 1875		43rd (1873–1875)
			Florida's 2nd	March 4, 1875	April 19, 1876		44th (1875–1877)
		Richard H. Cain (1825–1887)	South Carolina's at-large	March 4, 1873	March 3, 1875	Republican	43rd (1873–1875)	No	Retired
			South Carolina's 2nd	March 4, 1877	March 3, 1879		45th (1877–1879)
		John R. Lynch (1847–1939)	Mississippi's 6th	March 4, 1873	March 3, 1877	Republican	43rd (1873–1875)	Yes	Lost reelection
							44th (1875–1877)
				April 29, 1882	March 3, 1883		47th (1881–1883)
		Alonzo J. Ransier (1834–1882)	South Carolina's 2nd	March 4, 1873	March 3, 1875	Republican	43rd (1873–1875)	No	Retired
		James T. Rapier (1837–1883)	Alabama's 2nd	March 4, 1873	March 3, 1875	Republican	43rd (1873–1875)	No	Lost reelection
		Jeremiah Haralson (1846–1916)	Alabama's 1st	March 4, 1875	March 3, 1877	Republican	44th (1875–1877)	Yes	Lost reelection
		John Adams Hyman (1840–1891)	North Carolina's 2nd	March 4, 1875	March 3, 1877	Republican	44th (1875–1877)	Yes	Lost renomination
		Charles E. Nash (1844–1913)	Louisiana's 6th	March 4, 1875	March 3, 1877	Republican	44th (1875–1877)	No	Lost reelection
		Robert Smalls (1839–1915)	South Carolina's 5th	March 4, 1875	March 3, 1879	Republican	44th (1875–1877)	Yes	Lost reelection
							45th (1877–1879)
				July 19, 1882	March 3, 1883		47th (1881–1883)		Lost reelection
			South Carolina's 7th	March 18, 1884	March 3, 1887		48th (1883–1885)		Retired
							49th (1885–1887)
		James E. O'Hara (1844–1905)	North Carolina's 2nd	March 4, 1883	March 3, 1887	Republican	48th (1883–1885)	No	Lost reelection
							49th (1885–1887)

Late post-Reconstruction, Populist, and early Jim Crow era, 1887–1929

Political party

      Republican

Representative			Congressional district	Took office	Left office	Party	Congress	Former slave?	Notes
		Henry P. Cheatham (1857–1935)	North Carolina's 2nd	March 4, 1889	March 3, 1893	Republican	51st (1889–1891)	Yes	Lost reelection
							52nd (1891–1893)
		John Mercer Langston (1829–1897)	Virginia's 4th	September 23, 1890	March 3, 1891	Republican	51st (1889–1891)	No	Lost reelection
		Thomas E. Miller (1849–1938)	South Carolina's 7th	September 24, 1890	March 3, 1891	Republican	51st (1889–1891)	No	Lost reelection
		George W. Murray (1853–1926)	South Carolina's 7th	March 4, 1893	March 3, 1895	Republican	53rd (1893–1895)	Yes	Lost reelection
			South Carolina's 1st	June 4, 1896	March 3, 1897		54th (1895–1897)
		George Henry White (1852–1918)	North Carolina's 2nd	March 4, 1897	March 3, 1901	Republican	55th (1897–1899)	Yes	Retired
							56th (1899–1901)

Late Jim Crow and Civil Rights era, 1929–1970

Political parties

      Democratic       Republican

Representative			Congressional district	Took office	Left office	Party	Congress	Notes
		Oscar Stanton De Priest (1871–1951)	Illinois's 1st	March 4, 1929	January 3, 1935	Republican	71st (1929–1931)	Lost reelection
							72nd (1931–1933)
							73rd (1933–1935)
		Arthur W. Mitchell (1883–1968)	Illinois's 1st	January 3, 1935	January 3, 1943	Democratic	74th (1935–1937)	Retired
							THRU
							77th (1941–1943)
		William L. Dawson (1886–1970)	Illinois's 1st	January 3, 1943	November 9, 1970	Democratic	78th (1943–1945)	Died in office
							THRU
							91st (1969–1971)
		Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (1908–1972)	New York's 22nd	January 3, 1945	January 3, 1953	Democratic	79th (1945–1947)	Lost renomination
							THRU
							82nd (1951–1953)
			New York's 16th	January 3, 1953	January 3, 1963		83rd (1953–1955)
							THRU
							87th (1961–1963)
			New York's 18th	January 3, 1963	February 28, 1967		88th (1963–1965)
							89th (1965–1967)
							90th (1967–1969)
				April 11, 1967	January 3, 1971
							91st (1969–1971)
		Charles Diggs (1922–1998)	Michigan's 13th	January 3, 1955	June 3, 1980	Democratic	84th (1955–1957)	Resigned after being convicted of mail fraud
							THRU
							96th (1979–1981)
		Robert N. C. Nix Sr. (1898–1987)	Pennsylvania's 4th	June 4, 1958	January 3, 1963	Democratic	85th (1957–1959)	Lost renomination
							THRU
							87th (1961–1963)
			Pennsylvania's 2nd	January 3, 1963	January 3, 1979		88th (1963–1965)
							THRU
							95th (1977–1979)
		Augustus F. Hawkins (1907–2007)	California's 21st	January 3, 1963	January 3, 1975	Democratic	88th (1963–1965)	Retired
							THRU
							93rd (1973–1975)
			California's 29th	January 3, 1975	January 3, 1991		94th (1975–1977)
							THRU
							101st (1989–1991)
		John Conyers (1929–2019)	Michigan's 1st	January 3, 1965	January 3, 1993	Democratic	89th (1965–1967)	Resigned.
							THRU
							102nd (1991–1993)
			Michigan's 14th	January 3, 1993	January 3, 2013		103rd (1993–1995)
							THRU
							112th (2011–2013)
			Michigan's 13th	January 3, 2013	December 5, 2017		113th (2013–2015)
							THRU
							115th (2017–2019)
		Shirley Chisholm (1924–2005)	New York's 12th	January 3, 1969	January 3, 1983	Democratic	91st (1969–1971)	Retired
							THRU
							97th (1981–1983)
		Bill Clay (born 1931)	Missouri's 1st	January 3, 1969	January 3, 2001	Democratic	91st (1969–1971)	Retired
							THRU
							106th (1999–2001)
		Louis Stokes (1925–2015)	Ohio's 21st	January 3, 1969	January 3, 1993	Democratic	91st (1969–1971)	Retired
							THRU
							102nd (1991–1993)
			Ohio's 11th	January 3, 1993	January 3, 1999		103rd (1993–1995)
							THRU
							105th (1997–1999)
		George W. Collins (1925–1972)	Illinois's 6th	November 3, 1970	December 8, 1972	Democratic	91st (1969–1971)	Died in office
							92nd (1971–1973)

Modern era, 1971–present

Representatives

Political parties

      Democratic       Republican

Representative			Congressional district	Took office	Left office	Party	Congress	Notes
		Ron Dellums (1935–2018)	California's 7th	January 3, 1971	January 3, 1975	Democratic	92nd (1971–1973)	Resigned
							93rd (1973–1975)
			California's 8th	January 3, 1975	January 3, 1993		94th (1975–1977)
							THRU
							102nd (1991–1993)
			California's 9th	January 3, 1993	February 6, 1998		103rd (1993–1995)
							THRU
							105th (1997–1999)
		Ralph Metcalfe (1910–1978)	Illinois's 1st	January 3, 1971	October 10, 1978	Democratic	92nd (1971–1973)	Died in office
							THRU
							95th (1977–1979)
		Parren Mitchell (1922–2007)	Maryland's 7th	January 3, 1971	January 3, 1987	Democratic	92nd (1971–1973)	Retired to run unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland.
							THRU
							99th (1985–1987)
		Charles Rangel (born 1930)	New York's 18th	January 3, 1971	January 3, 1973	Democratic	92nd (1971–1973)	Retired
			New York's 19th	January 3, 1973	January 3, 1983		93rd (1973–1975)
							THRU
							97th (1981–1983)
			New York's 16th	January 3, 1983	January 3, 1993		98th (1983–1985)
							THRU
							102nd (1991–1993)
			New York's 15th	January 3, 1993	January 3, 2013		103rd (1993–1995)
							THRU
							112th (2011–2013)
			New York's 13th	January 3, 2013	January 3, 2017		113th (2013–2015)
							114th (2015–2017)
		Yvonne Brathwaite Burke (born 1932)	California's 37th	January 3, 1973	January 3, 1975	Democratic	93rd (1973–1975)	Retired to run unsuccessfully for Attorney General of California.
			California's 28th	January 3, 1975	January 3, 1979		94th (1975–1977)
							95th (1977–1979)
		Barbara Jordan (1936–1996)	Texas's 18th	January 3, 1973	January 3, 1979	Democratic	93rd (1973–1975)	Retired
							94th (1975–1977)
							95th (1977–1979)
		Andrew Young (born 1932)	Georgia's 5th	January 3, 1973	January 29, 1977	Democratic	93rd (1973–1975)	Resigned to become the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
							94th (1975–1977)
							95th (1977–1979)
		Cardiss Collins (1931–2013)	Illinois's 7th	June 5, 1973	January 3, 1997	Democratic	93rd (1973–1975)	Retired
							THRU
							104th (1995–1997)
		Harold Ford Sr. (born 1945)	Tennessee's 8th	January 3, 1975	January 3, 1983	Democratic	94th (1975–1977)	Retired
							THRU
							97th (1981–1983)
			Tennessee's 9th	January 3, 1983	January 3, 1997		98th (1983–1985)
							THRU
							104th (1995–1997)
		Julian Dixon (1934–2000)	California's 28th	January 3, 1979	January 3, 1993	Democratic	96th (1979–1981)	Died in office
							THRU
							102nd (1991–1993)
			California's 32nd	January 3, 1993	December 8, 2000		103rd (1993–1995)
							THRU
							106th (1999–2001)
		William H. Gray III (1941–2013)	Pennsylvania's 2nd	January 3, 1979	September 11, 1991	Democratic	96th (1979–1981)	Resigned to become President of the United Negro College Fund.
							THRU
							102nd (1991–1993)
		Mickey Leland (1944–1989)	Texas's 18th	January 3, 1979	August 7, 1989	Democratic	96th (1979–1981)	Died in office
							THRU
							101st (1989–1991)
		Bennett Stewart (1912–1988)	Illinois's 1st	January 3, 1979	January 3, 1981	Democratic	96th (1979–1981)	Lost renomination
		George Crockett Jr. (1909–1997)	Michigan's 13th	November 4, 1980	January 3, 1991	Democratic	96th (1979–1981)	Retired
							THRU
							101st (1989–1991)
		Mervyn Dymally (1926–2012)	California's 31st	January 3, 1981	January 3, 1993	Democratic	97th (1981–1983)	Retired
							THRU
							102nd (1991–1993)
		Gus Savage (1925–2015)	Illinois's 2nd	January 3, 1981	January 3, 1993	Democratic	97th (1981–1983)	Lost renomination.
							THRU
							102nd (1991–1993)
		Harold Washington (1922–1987)	Illinois's 1st	January 3, 1981	April 30, 1983	Democratic	97th (1981–1983)	Resigned to become Mayor of Chicago
							98th (1983–1985)
		Katie Hall (1938–2012)	Indiana's 1st	November 2, 1982	January 3, 1985	Democratic	97th (1981–1983)	Lost renomination
							98th (1983–1985)
		Major Owens (1936–2013)	New York's 12th	January 3, 1983	January 3, 1993	Democratic	98th (1983–1985)	Retired
							THRU
							102nd (1991–1993)
			New York's 11th	January 3, 1993	January 3, 2007		103rd (1993–1995)
							THRU
							109th (2005–2007)
		Edolphus Towns (born 1934)	New York's 11th	January 3, 1983	January 3, 1993	Democratic	98th (1983–1985)	Retired
							THRU
							102nd (1991–1993)
			New York's 10th	January 3, 1993	January 3, 2013		103rd (1993–1995)
							THRU
							112th (2011–2013)
		Alan Wheat (born 1951)	Missouri's 5th	January 3, 1983	January 3, 1995	Democratic	98th (1983–1985)	Retired to run unsuccessfully for the United States Senate
							THRU
							103rd (1993–1995)
		Charles Hayes (1918–1997)	Illinois's 1st	August 23, 1983	January 3, 1993	Democratic	98th (1983–1985)	Lost renomination
							THRU
							102nd (1991–1993)
		Alton Waldon (1936–2023)	New York's 6th	June 10, 1986	January 3, 1987	Democratic	99th (1985–1987)	Lost renomination
		Mike Espy (born 1953)	Mississippi's 2nd	January 3, 1987	January 22, 1993	Democratic	100th (1987–1989)	Resigned to become the United States Secretary of Agriculture.
							THRU
							103rd (1993–1995)
		Floyd Flake (born 1945)	New York's 6th	January 3, 1987	November 17, 1997	Democratic	100th (1987–1989)	Resigned to become a pastor at the Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church.
							THRU
							105th (1997–1999)
		John Lewis (1940–2020)	Georgia's 5th	January 3, 1987	July 17, 2020	Democratic	100th (1987–1989)	Died in office
							THRU
							116th (2019–2021)
		Kweisi Mfume (born 1948)	Maryland's 7th	January 3, 1987	February 15, 1996	Democratic	100th (1987–1989)	Resigned to become Executive Director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
							THRU
							104th (1995–1997)
				May 5, 2020	Incumbent		116th (2019–2021)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Donald M. Payne (1934–2012)	New Jersey's 10th	January 3, 1989	March 6, 2012	Democratic	101st (1989–1991)	Died in office
							THRU
							112th (2011–2013)
		Craig Washington (born 1941)	Texas's 18th	December 9, 1989	January 3, 1995	Democratic	101st (1989–1991)	Lost renomination
							102nd (1991–1993)
							103rd (1993–1995)
		Barbara-Rose Collins (1939–2021)	Michigan's 13th	January 3, 1991	January 3, 1993	Democratic	102nd (1991–1993)	Lost renomination
			Michigan's 15th	January 3, 1993	January 3, 1997		103rd (1993–1995)
							104th (1995–1997)
		Gary Franks (born 1953)	Connecticut's 5th	January 3, 1991	January 3, 1997	Republican	102nd (1991–1993)	Lost reelection
							103rd (1993–1995)
							104th (1995–1997)
		William J. Jefferson (born 1947)	Louisiana's 2nd	January 3, 1991	January 3, 2009	Democratic	102nd (1991–1993)	Lost reelection after being indicted for bribery, of which he was later convicted.
							THRU
							110th (2007–2009)
		Maxine Waters (born 1938)	California's 29th	January 3, 1991	January 3, 1993	Democratic	102nd (1991–1993)
			California's 35th	January 3, 1993	January 3, 2013		103rd (1993–1995)
							THRU
							112th (2011–2013)
			California's 43rd	January 3, 2013	Incumbent		113th (2013–2015)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Lucien Blackwell (1931–2003)	Pennsylvania's 2nd	November 5, 1991	January 3, 1995	Democratic	102nd (1991–1993)	Lost renomination
							103rd (1993–1995)
		Eva Clayton (born 1934)	North Carolina's 1st	November 3, 1992	January 3, 2003	Democratic	102nd (1991–1993)	Retired
							THRU
							107th (2001–2003)
		Sanford Bishop (born 1947)	Georgia's 2nd	January 3, 1993	Incumbent	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)
							THRU
							117th (2021–2023)
		Corrine Brown (born 1946)	Florida's 3rd	January 3, 1993	January 3, 2013	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)	Lost renomination after being indicted for fraud and tax-evasion, of which she was later convicted
							THRU
							112th (2011–2013)
			Florida's 5th	January 3, 2013	January 3, 2017		113th (2013–2015)
							114th (2015–2017)
		Jim Clyburn (born 1940)	South Carolina's 6th	January 3, 1993	Incumbent	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Cleo Fields (born 1962)	Louisiana's 4th	January 3, 1993	January 3, 1997	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)	Retired
							104th (1995–1997)
		Alcee Hastings (1936–2021)	Florida's 23rd	January 3, 1993	January 3, 2013	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)	Died in office
							THRU
							112th (2011–2013)
			Florida's 20th	January 3, 2013	April 6, 2021		113th (2013–2015)
							THRU
							117th (2021–2023)
		Earl Hilliard (born 1942)	Alabama's 7th	January 3, 1993	January 3, 2003	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)	Lost renomination
							THRU
							107th (2001–2003)
		Eddie Bernice Johnson (1934–2023)	Texas's 30th	January 3, 1993	January 3, 2023	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)	Retired
							THRU
							117th (2021–2023)
		Cynthia McKinney (born 1955)	Georgia's 11th	January 3, 1993	January 3, 1997	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)	Lost renomination in 2002 and 2006
							104th (1995–1997)
			Georgia's 4th	January 3, 1997	January 3, 2003		105th (1997–1999)
							THRU
							107th (2001–2003)
				January 3, 2005	January 3, 2007		109th (2005–2007)
		Carrie Meek (1926–2021)	Florida's 17th	January 3, 1993	January 3, 2003	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)	Retired
							THRU
							107th (2001–2003)
		Mel Reynolds (born 1952)	Illinois's 2nd	January 3, 1993	October 1, 1995	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)	Resigned.
							104th (1995–1997)
		Bobby Rush (born 1946)	Illinois's 1st	January 3, 1993	January 3, 2023	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)	Retired
							THRU
							117th (2021–2023)
		Bobby Scott (born 1947)	Virginia's 3rd	January 3, 1993	Incumbent	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Walter R. Tucker III (born 1957)	California's 37th	January 3, 1993	December 15, 1995	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)	Resigned after being convicted of tax-evasion and extortion
							104th (1995–1997)
		Mel Watt (born 1945)	North Carolina's 12th	January 3, 1993	January 6, 2014	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)	Resigned to become Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency
							THRU
							113th (2013–2015)
		Albert Wynn (born 1951)	Maryland's 4th	January 3, 1993	May 31, 2008	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)	Resigned after losing renomination.
							THRU
							110th (2007–2009)
		Bennie Thompson (born 1948)	Mississippi's 2nd	April 13, 1993	Incumbent	Democratic	103rd (1993–1995)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Chaka Fattah (born 1956)	Pennsylvania's 2nd	January 3, 1995	June 23, 2016	Democratic	104th (1995–1997)	Resigned following loss of renomination and convictions for racketeering, fraud, and money laundering.
							THRU
							114th (2015–2017)
		Sheila Jackson Lee (born 1950)	Texas's 18th	January 3, 1995	Incumbent	Democratic	104th (1995–1997)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		J. C. Watts (born 1957)	Oklahoma's 4th	January 3, 1995	January 3, 2003	Republican	104th (1995–1997)	Retired from office.
							THRU
							107th (2001–2003)
		Jesse Jackson Jr. (born 1965)	Illinois's 2nd	December 12, 1995	November 21, 2012	Democratic	104th (1995–1997)	Resigned after being convicted of wire and mail fraud
							THRU
							112th (2011–2013)
		Juanita Millender-McDonald (1938–2007)	California's 37th	March 26, 1996	April 22, 2007	Democratic	104th (1995–1997)	Died in office
							THRU
							110th (2007–2009)
		Elijah Cummings (1951–2019)	Maryland's 7th	April 16, 1996	October 17, 2019	Democratic	104th (1995–1997)	Died in office
							THRU
							116th (2019–2021)
		Julia Carson (1938–2007)	Indiana's 10th	January 3, 1997	January 3, 2003	Democratic	105th (1997–1999)	Died in office
							THRU
							107th (2001–2003)
			Indiana's 7th	January 3, 2003	December 15, 2007		108th (2003–2005)
							THRU
							110th (2007–2009)
		Danny Davis (born 1941)	Illinois's 7th	January 3, 1997	Incumbent	Democratic	105th (1997–1999)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Harold Ford Jr. (born 1970)	Tennessee's 9th	January 3, 1997	January 3, 2007	Democratic	105th (1997–1999)	Retired to run unsuccessfully for the United States Senate
							THRU
							109th (2005–2007)
		Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (born 1945)	Michigan's 15th	January 3, 1997	January 3, 2003	Democratic	105th (1997–1999)	Lost renomination
							THRU
							107th (2001–2003)
			Michigan's 13th	January 3, 2003	January 3, 2011		108th (2003–2005)
							THRU
							111th (2009–2011)
		Gregory Meeks (born 1953)	New York's 6th	February 3, 1998	January 3, 2013	Democratic	105th (1997–1999)
							THRU
							112th (2011–2013)
			New York's 5th	January 3, 2013	Incumbent		113th (2013–2015)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Barbara Lee (born 1946)	California's 9th	April 7, 1998	January 3, 2013	Democratic	105th (1997–1999)
							THRU
							112th (2011–2013)
			California's 13th	January 3, 2013	January 3, 2023		113th (2013–2015)
							THRU
							117th (2021–2023)
			California's 12th	January 3, 2023	Incumbent		118th (2023–2025)
		Stephanie Tubbs Jones (1949–2008)	Ohio's 11th	January 3, 1999	August 20, 2008	Democratic	106th (1999–2001)	Died in office
							THRU
							110th (2007–2009)
		Lacy Clay (born 1956)	Missouri's 1st	January 3, 2001	January 3, 2021	Democratic	107th (2001–2003)	Lost renomination
							THRU
							116th (2019–2021)
		Diane Watson (born 1933)	California's 32nd	June 5, 2001	January 3, 2003	Democratic	107th (2001–2003)	Retired
			California's 33rd	January 3, 2003	January 3, 2011		108th (2003–2005)
							THRU
							111th (2009–2011)
		Frank Ballance (1942–2019)	North Carolina's 1st	January 3, 2003	June 11, 2004	Democratic	108th (2003–2005)	Resigned after being convicted of mail fraud and money laundering
		Artur Davis (born 1967)	Alabama's 7th	January 3, 2003	January 3, 2011	Democratic	108th (2003–2005)	Retired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Alabama.
							THRU
							111th (2009–2011)
		Denise Majette (born 1955)	Georgia's 4th	January 3, 2003	January 3, 2005	Democratic	108th (2003–2005)	Retired from office to run unsuccessfully for the United States Senate
		Kendrick Meek (born 1966)	Florida's 17th	January 3, 2003	January 3, 2011	Democratic	108th (2003–2005)	Retired from office to run unsuccessfully for the United States Senate
							THRU
							111th (2009–2011)
		David Scott (born 1945)	Georgia's 13th	January 3, 2003	Incumbent	Democratic	108th (2003–2005)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		G. K. Butterfield (born 1947)	North Carolina's 1st	July 20, 2004	January 3, 2023	Democratic	108th (2003–2005)	Retired
							THRU
							117th (2021–2023)
		Emanuel Cleaver (born 1944)	Missouri's 5th	January 3, 2005	Incumbent	Democratic	109th (2005–2007)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Al Green (born 1947)	Texas's 9th	January 3, 2005	Incumbent	Democratic	109th (2005–2007)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Gwen Moore (born 1951)	Wisconsin's 4th	January 3, 2005	Incumbent	Democratic	109th (2005–2007)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Yvette Clarke (born 1964)	New York's 11th	January 3, 2007	January 3, 2013	Democratic	110th (2007–2009)
							THRU
							112th (2011–2013)
			New York's 9th	January 3, 2013	Incumbent		113th (2013–2015)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Keith Ellison (born 1963)	Minnesota's 5th	January 3, 2007	January 3, 2019	Democratic	110th (2007–2009)	Retired to run successfully for Attorney General of Minnesota
							THRU
							115th (2017–2019)
		Hank Johnson (born 1954)	Georgia's 4th	January 3, 2007	Incumbent	Democratic	110th (2007–2009)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Laura Richardson (born 1962)	California's 37th	August 21, 2007	January 3, 2013	Democratic	110th (2007–2009)	Lost reelection
							111th (2009–2011)
							112th (2011–2013)
		André Carson (born 1974)	Indiana's 7th	March 11, 2008	Incumbent	Democratic	110th (2007–2009)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Donna Edwards (born 1958)	Maryland's 4th	June 17, 2008	January 3, 2017	Democratic	110th (2007–2009)	Retired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate
							THRU
							114th (2015–2017)
		Marcia Fudge (born 1952)	Ohio's 11th	November 18, 2008	March 10, 2021	Democratic	110th (2007–2009)	Resigned to become Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
							THRU
							117th (2021–2023)
		Karen Bass (born 1953)	California's 33rd	January 3, 2011	January 3, 2013	Democratic	112th (2011–2013)	Resigned to become the Mayor of Los Angeles
			California's 37th	January 3, 2013	December 9, 2022		113th (2013–2015)
							THRU
							117th (2021–2023)
		Hansen Clarke (born 1957)	Michigan's 13th	January 3, 2011	January 3, 2013	Democratic	112th (2011–2013)	Lost renomination
		Cedric Richmond (born 1973)	Louisiana's 2nd	January 3, 2011	January 15, 2021	Democratic	112th (2011–2013)	Resigned to become Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement
							THRU
							117th (2021–2023)
		Tim Scott (born 1965)	South Carolina's 1st	January 3, 2011	January 2, 2013	Republican	112th (2011–2013)	After winning reelection, was appointed to the United States Senate and resigned early to take the Senate seat.
		Terri Sewell (born 1965)	Alabama's 7th	January 3, 2011	Incumbent	Democratic	112th (2011–2013)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Allen West (born 1961)	Florida's 22nd	January 3, 2011	January 3, 2013	Republican	112th (2011–2013)	Lost reelection
		Frederica Wilson (born 1942)	Florida's 17th	January 3, 2011	January 3, 2013	Democratic	112th (2011–2013)
			Florida's 24th	January 3, 2013	Incumbent		113th (2013–2015)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Donald Payne Jr. (1958–2024)	New Jersey's 10th	November 6, 2012	April 24, 2024	Democratic	112th (2011–2013)	Died in office
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Joyce Beatty (born 1950)	Ohio's 3rd	January 3, 2013	Incumbent	Democratic	113th (2013–2015)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Steven Horsford (born 1973)	Nevada's 4th	January 3, 2013	January 3, 2015	Democratic	113th (2013–2015)	Lost reelection
				January 3, 2019	Incumbent		116th (2019–2021)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Hakeem Jeffries (born 1970)	New York's 8th	January 3, 2013	Incumbent	Democratic	113th (2013–2015)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Marc Veasey (born 1971)	Texas's 33rd	January 3, 2013	Incumbent	Democratic	113th (2013–2015)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Robin Kelly (born 1956)	Illinois's 2nd	April 9, 2013	Incumbent	Democratic	113th (2013–2015)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Alma Adams (born 1946)	North Carolina's 12th	November 12, 2014	Incumbent	Democratic	113th (2013–2015)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Bonnie Watson Coleman (born 1945)	New Jersey's 12th	January 3, 2015	Incumbent	Democratic	114th (2015–2017)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Will Hurd (born 1977)	Texas's 23rd	January 3, 2015	January 3, 2021	Republican	114th (2015–2017)	Retired
							115th (2017–2019)
							116th (2019–2021)
		Brenda Lawrence (born 1954)	Michigan's 14th	January 3, 2015	January 3, 2023	Democratic	114th (2015–2017)	Retired
							THRU
							117th (2021–2023)
		Mia Love (born 1975)	Utah's 4th	January 3, 2015	January 3, 2019	Republican	114th (2015–2017)	Lost reelection
							115th (2017–2019)
		Dwight Evans (born 1954)	Pennsylvania's 2nd	November 8, 2016	January 3, 2019	Democratic	114th (2015–2017)
							115th (2017–2019)
			Pennsylvania's 3rd	January 3, 2019	Incumbent		116th (2019–2021)
							118th (2023–2025)
		Anthony Brown (born 1961)	Maryland's 4th	January 3, 2017	January 3, 2023	Democratic	115th (2017–2019)	Retired to successfully run for Attorney General of Maryland
							116th (2019–2021)
							117th (2021–2023)
		Val Demings (born 1957)	Florida's 10th	January 3, 2017	January 3, 2023	Democratic	115th (2017–2019)	Retired to unsuccessfully run for United States Senate
							116th (2019–2021)
							117th (2021–2023)
		Al Lawson (born 1948)	Florida's 5th	January 3, 2017	January 3, 2023	Democratic	115th (2017–2019)	Lost reelection after redistricting
							116th (2019–2021)
							117th (2021–2023)
		Donald McEachin (1961-2022)	Virginia's 4th	January 3, 2017	November 28, 2022	Democratic	115th (2017–2019)	Died in office
							116th (2019–2021)
							117th (2021–2023)
		Lisa Blunt Rochester (born 1962)	Delaware's at-large	January 3, 2017	Incumbent	Democratic	115th (2017–2019)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Brenda Jones (born 1959)	Michigan's 13th	November 29, 2018	January 3, 2019	Democratic	115th (2017–2019)	Lost nomination to the next term
		Colin Allred (born 1983)	Texas's 32nd	January 3, 2019	Incumbent	Democratic	116th (2019–2021)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Antonio Delgado (born 1977)	New York's 19th	January 3, 2019	May 25, 2022	Democratic	116th (2019–2021)	Resigned to become Lieutenant Governor of New York.
							117th (2021–2023)
		Jahana Hayes (born 1973)	Connecticut's 5th	January 3, 2019	Incumbent	Democratic	116th (2019–2021)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Lucy McBath (born 1960)	Georgia's 6th	January 3, 2019	January 3, 2023	Democratic	116th (2019–2021)
							117th (2021–2023)
			Georgia's 7th	January 3, 2023	Incumbent		118th (2023–2025)
		Joe Neguse (born 1984)	Colorado's 2nd	January 3, 2019	Incumbent	Democratic	116th (2019–2021)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Ilhan Omar (born 1981)	Minnesota's 5th	January 3, 2019	Incumbent	Democratic	116th (2019–2021)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Ayanna Pressley (born 1974)	Massachusetts's 7th	January 3, 2019	Incumbent	Democratic	116th (2019–2021)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Lauren Underwood (born 1986)	Illinois's 14th	January 3, 2019	Incumbent	Democratic	116th (2019–2021)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Kwanza Hall (born 1971)	Georgia's 5th	December 3, 2020	January 3, 2021	Democratic	116th (2019–2021)	Retired
		Jamaal Bowman (born 1976)	New York's 16th	January 3, 2021	Incumbent	Democratic	117th (2021–2023)
							118th (2023–2025)
		Cori Bush (born 1976)	Missouri's 1st	January 3, 2021	Incumbent	Democratic	117th (2021–2023)
							118th (2023–2025)
		Byron Donalds (born 1978)	Florida's 19th	January 3, 2021	Incumbent	Republican	117th (2021–2023)
							118th (2023–2025)
		Mondaire Jones (born 1987)	New York's 17th	January 3, 2021	January 3, 2023	Democratic	117th (2021–2023)	Lost renomination after redistricting
		Burgess Owens (born 1951)	Utah's 4th	January 3, 2021	Incumbent	Republican	117th (2021–2023)
							118th (2023–2025)
		Marilyn Strickland (born 1962)	Washington's 10th	January 3, 2021	Incumbent	Democratic	117th (2021–2023)
							118th (2023–2025)
		Ritchie Torres (born 1988)	New York's 15th	January 3, 2021	Incumbent	Democratic	117th (2021–2023)
							118th (2023–2025)
		Nikema Williams (born 1978)	Georgia's 5th	January 3, 2021	Incumbent	Democratic	117th (2021–2023)
							118th (2023–2025)
		Troy Carter (born 1963)	Louisiana's 2nd	May 11, 2021	Incumbent	Democratic	117th (2021–2023)
							118th (2023–2025)
		Shontel Brown (born 1975)	Ohio's 11th	November 4, 2021	Incumbent	Democratic	117th (2021–2023)
							118th (2023–2025)
		Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (born 1979)	Florida's 20th	January 18, 2022	Incumbent	Democratic	117th (2021–2023)
							118th (2023–2025)
		Jasmine Crockett (born 1981)	Texas's 30th	January 3, 2023	Incumbent	Democratic	118th (2023–2025)
		Don Davis (born 1971)	North Carolina's 1st	January 3, 2023	Incumbent	Democratic	118th (2023–2025)
		Valerie Foushee (born 1956)	North Carolina's 4th	January 3, 2023	Incumbent	Democratic	118th (2023–2025)
		Maxwell Frost (born 1997)	Florida's 10th	January 3, 2023	Incumbent	Democratic	118th (2023–2025)
		Wesley Hunt (born 1981)	Texas's 38th	January 3, 2023	Incumbent	Republican	118th (2023–2025)
		Glenn Ivey (born 1971)	Maryland's 4th	January 3, 2023	Incumbent	Democratic	118th (2023–2025)
		Jonathan Jackson (born 1966)	Illinois's 1st	January 3, 2023	Incumbent	Democratic	118th (2023–2025)
		John James (born 1981)	Michigan's 10th	January 3, 2023	Incumbent	Republican	118th (2023–2025)
		Sydney Kamlager-Dove (born 1972)	California's 37th	January 3, 2023	Incumbent	Democratic	118th (2023–2025)
		Summer Lee (born 1987)	Pennsylvania's 12th	January 3, 2023	Incumbent	Democratic	118th (2023–2025)
		Emilia Sykes (born 1986)	Ohio's 13th	January 3, 2023	Incumbent	Democratic	118th (2023–2025)
		Jennifer McClellan (born 1972)	Virginia's 4th	March 7, 2023	Incumbent	Democratic	118th (2023–2025)
		Gabe Amo (born 1987)	Rhode Island's 1st	November 13, 2023	Incumbent	Democratic	118th (2023–2025)

House delegates (non-voting members)

Political parties

      Democratic       Republican       Independent

Delegate			Congressional district	Took office	Left office	Party	Congress	Notes
		Walter Fauntroy (born 1933)	District of Columbia's at-large	March 23, 1971	January 3, 1991	Democratic	92nd (1971–1973)	Retired to run unsuccessfully for Mayor of the District of Columbia.
							THRU
							101st (1989–1991)
		Melvin H. Evans (1917–1984)	Virgin Islands' at-large	January 3, 1979	January 3, 1981	Republican	96th (1979–1981)	Lost reelection
		Eleanor Holmes Norton (born 1937)	District of Columbia's at-large	January 3, 1991	Incumbent	Democratic	102nd (1991–1993)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)
		Victor O. Frazer (born 1943)	Virgin Islands' at-large	January 3, 1995	January 3, 1997	Independent	104th (1995–1997)	Lost reelection
		Donna Christian-Christensen (born 1945)	Virgin Islands' at-large	January 3, 1997	January 3, 2015	Democratic	105th (1997–1999)	Retired to run unsuccessfully for Governor of Virgin Islands.
							THRU
							113th (2013–2015)
		Stacey Plaskett (born 1966)	Virgin Islands' at-large	January 3, 2015	Incumbent	Democratic	114th (2015–2017)
							THRU
							118th (2023–2025)

African Americans elected to the House of Representatives, but not seated

Political party

      Republican

Representative–elect			Congressional district	Year elected	Party	Congress	Former slave?	Notes
		John Willis Menard (1838–1893)	Louisiana's 2nd	1868	Republican	41st (1869–1871)	No	Denied seat due to a contested election that involved white Democrat Caleb S. Hunt, but was permitted to address the House while in session, the first African American to do so.
		Samuel Peters (1835–1873)	Louisiana's 4th	1872	Republican	43rd (1873–1875)	No	Died on September 26, 1873, before the U.S. House of Representatives for the 43rd Congress was assembled.
		P. B. S. Pinchback (1837–1921)	Louisiana's at-large	1872	Republican	43rd (1873–1875)	No	Denied seat due to a contested election that involved white Liberal Republican George A. Sheridan.

See also

Federal government

• African Americans in the United States Congress
  • List of African-American United States senators
  • Congressional Black Caucus
  • Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
• List of African American United States Cabinet members

State and local government

• African American officeholders in the United States, 1789–1866
• List of African American U.S. state firsts
• List of first African American mayors