Racist nation? Congressional Black Caucus boasts of record high membership – not counting Republicans

In another narrative-busting reality check for Democrats who raged about a “racist” President-elect Donald Trump, the next Congress is set to boast a record-setting number of black members.

There will reportedly be a record 62 members as part of the incoming Congressional Black Caucus according to a report from the organization viewed by NBC News.

“In all, 67 Black people will serve in Congress. Five Republican members are not listed as members of the CBC,” the outlet reported Monday.

Rep. Gregory Meeks told NBC News that the group will be watching Trump and will hold him to account.

“We’ve always been the conscience of the Congress, and that’s no matter who’s in charge,” the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said. “We always try to work with folks where we can. But we call them out also. And now we have more of these leaders to call truth to power, to make sure that the voices of the voiceless are heard.”

Other CBC members who are ranking members in committees include Virginia’s Rep. Bobby Scott on Education; Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS) on Homeland Security; Rep. David Scott (GA) on Agriculture; and Rep. Maxine Waters (CA) on Financial Services.

The Congress’ 119th session will see the CBC “loudly” challenge the second Trump administration in relevant policy areas such as healthcare access and prescription drug costs.

“Instead of just having a quartet, now you’ve got a whole choir,” Meeks said. “And we will be loud, we will be clear, and we’re going to be constant and consistent because this administration is a danger.”

“We’re going to be showing exactly who is working on that effort because it’s going to have a direct effect on our community,” he said of the measures to eliminate the Affordable Care Act,

“Despite the Republicans having the House and the Senate” next session, said Niccara Campbell Wallace, executive director of the Rolling Sea Action Fund, adding, “you feel good about what these historic number of Black Congress members can do in terms of helping influence what comes down the pipe.”

“Black Americans have believed in the ideals of what America can and will be, despite us not always having a seat at the table or being in the forefront of the Founding Fathers’ minds,” she claimed.

A few short weeks past the 2024 election, Meeks is already looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections.

“Two years go around very fast,” he said. “That’s why we’re going to be campaigning and moving forward for the entire two years.”

“We’ll be making it clear that in just two years, we can reverse and stop some of the things, some of the tragedies, of the administration-elect,” he added, “and that their policies will be putting the plague on our communities, as well as poor white communities. It’s going to have an effect on the whole country.”

The Congressional Black Caucus PAC announced Monday that the CBC “will hold the line to protect Americans from the danger of extremist Republicans and their hate-filled Project 2025 agenda,” referring to the policy wish list published by the think tank, the Heritage Foundation.

“In the streets, the courtroom, and in Congress, the CBC will build coalitions with Americans of goodwill to fight for a fair economy and defend freedom. House and Senate Republicans should be on alert, we will expose and define their dangerous, reckless agenda out the gate — Americans will have a clear-eyed-view of the stakes next November,” the PAC vowed.

Trump has repeatedly maintained that the political initiative is not something he has endorsed or plans to implement in his administration.

Frieda Powers

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