Black Candidates Running for Office in 2020
Change starts here.
It's not enough to demand justice for a week and simply move on. If we want to make real change in this country, that change needs to be reflected in our leaders, starting at the local level. (If you're not registered to vote yet, take two minutes to do so here.) Black people are tired, but these candidates, below, are dedicating themselves to their communities and their country—consistently putting in the work to remind us that Black lives have and always will matter.
Here, with the help of organizations like Higher Heights for America, Vote Run Lead, Emerge America, the LGBTQ Victory Fund, and more, Marie Claire compiled a list of mostly Democratic and non-partisan Black candidates running for office at the local, state, and federal level across the country in 2020. We encourage you to educate yourself about these candidates and their opponents by clicking the "learn more" button underneath each candidate to make an informed decision at the polls. By no means is this a comprehensive list of who's running for office, and we will continue to update this piece throughout the year as elections occur.
Jump directly to your state by clicking below:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Alabama
Phyllis Harvey-Hall
U.S. House of Representatives, AL-02
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Adia McClellan Winfrey
U.S. House of Representatives, AL-03
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Terri A. Sewell
U.S. House of Representatives, AL-07
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Alaska
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
Arizona
Coral Evans
Arizona State House of Representatives, District 6
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Geraldine Peten
Arizona State House of Representatives, District 4
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Jevin Hodge
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, District 1
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Whitney Walker
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, District 3
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Triné Nelson
Kyrene School District Governing Board
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Arkansas
Keidra Burrell
Arkansas State Senate, District 27
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Ronetta Francis
Arkansas State Senate, District 1
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Denise Ennett
Arkansas State House of Representatives, District 36
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Joyce Elliot
U.S. House of Representatives, AR-02
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Jannie Cotton
Arkansas State House of Representatives, District 41
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Shawn Only
Arkansas State House of Representatives, District 53
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Ricky Dale Harrington Jr.
U.S. Senate
Election Date: November 3, 2020
California
Rhodesia Ransom
San Joaquin County Supervisor, District 5
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Tunua Thrash-Ntuk
Long Beach City Council, District 8
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Angela Andrews
Hayward City Council
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Holly Mitchell
Los Angeles County Supervisor, District 2
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Marcus Bush
National City Council-At-Large
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Barbara J. Lee
U.S. House of Representatives, CA-13
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Karen Bass
U.S. House of Representatives, CA-37
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Maxine Waters
U.S. House of Representatives, CA-43
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Lanira Murphy
State Assembly, District 46
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Nichelle Henderson
Los Angeles Community College Board
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Maureen Craft
Elk Grove City Council
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Ge’Nell Gary
Albany City Council
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Kimberly Warmsley
Stockton City Council
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Monica E. Wilson
Antioch City Council, District 4
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Tiffanee Jones
Vallejo City Unified School District Trustee, District 2
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Treva Reid
Oakland City Council, District 7
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Sara Prada
Hayward School Board
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Kim Pipkin
San Anselmo Town Council
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Marcia Wilson
Alhambra Unified School District Board of Education
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Yasmine-Imani McMorrin
Culver City Council
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Carolyn Wysinger
West Contra Costa Unified School Board Trustee, District 5
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Lisa Gauthier
East Palo Alto City Council
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Dr. Nichèt James-Gray
Los Angeles Community College District Board, Seat Five
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Herb Wesson
Los Angeles County Supervisor, District 2
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Joella Valdez
Montebello City Council
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Chaz Flemmings
Manhattan Beach City Council
Election Date: November 3, 2020
David Torres
Montebello City Council
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Richard Hurt
Aliso Viejo City Council
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Devin Murphy
Pinole City Council
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Colorado
Regan Byrd
Colorado RTD Board, District H
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Leslie Herod
Colorado State House of Representatives, District 8
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Dominique Jackson
Colorado State House of Representatives, District 42
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Rhonda Fields
Colorado State Senate, District 29
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Joe Neguse
U.S. House of Representatives, CO-02
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Jennifer Bacon
Colorado State House of Representatives, District 7
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Connecticut
Jahana Hayes
U.S. House of Representatives, CT-05
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Quentin "Q" Phipps
Connecticut State House of Representatives, District 100
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Delaware
Lisa Blunt Rochester
U.S. House of Representatives, DE-00
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Madinah Wilson-Anton
Delaware State House of Representatives, District 26
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Marie Pinkney
Delaware State Senate, District 13
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Florida
Shevrin Jones
Florida State Senate, District 35
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Val Demings
U.S. House of Representatives, FL-10
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Kimberly Walker
U.S. House of Representatives, FL-12
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Pam Keith
U.S. House of Representatives, FL-18
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Christine Olivo
U.S. House of Representatives, FL-24
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Frederica Wilson
U.S. House of Representatives, FL-24
Election Date: November 3, 2020
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Bobby DuBose
Florida State House of Representatives, District 94
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Harold Pryor
Broward County State Attorney
Election Date: November 3, 2020
George Odom
Broward County Circuit Court Judge, Group 16
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Anika Omphroy
Florida State House of Representatives, District 95
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Vennia Francois
U.S. House of Representatives, FL-10
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Dotie Joseph
Florida State House of Representatives, District 108
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Fentrice Driskell
Florida State House of Representatives, District 63
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Travaris McCurdy
Florida State House of Representatives, District 46
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Georgia
Lucy McBath
U.S. House of Representatives, GA-06
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Regina Lewis-Ward
Georgia State House of Representatives, District 109
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Patsy Austin-Gatson
Gwinnett County District Attorney
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Rhonda Burnough
Georgia State House Representative, District 77
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Park Cannon
Georgia State House of Representatives, District 58
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Nikema Williams
Georgia State Senate, District 39
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Doreen Carter
Georgia State House of Representatives, District 92
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Joyce Barlow
Georgia State House of Representatives, 151
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Mokah Jasmine Johnson
Georgia State House of Representatives, District 117
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Raphael Warnock
U.S. Senate
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Donna McLeod
Georgia State House of Representatives, District 105
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Shelly Hutchinson
Georgia State House of Representatives, District 107
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Jasmine Clark
Georgia State House of Representatives, District 108
Election Date: November 3, 2020
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Renitta Shannon
Georgia State House of Representatives, District 84
Election Date: November 3, 2020
RELATED STORY
Jamesia James
U.S. Senate
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Deborah A. Jackson
U.S. Senate
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Tamara Johnson-Shealey
U.S. Senate
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Valencia Stovall
U.S. Senate
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Tabitha Johnson-Green
U.S. House of Representatives, GA-10
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Derrick J. Wilson
Gwinnett County Commission, District 3
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Nicole Love Hendrickson
Gwinnett County Commission, Chair
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Matielyn Jones
Georgia State Senate, District 45
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Ebony Carter
Georgia State House of Representatives, District 110
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Aaron Whitely
Chatham County Commission, District 6
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Hawaii
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
Idaho
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
Illinois
Lauren Underwood
U.S. House of Representatives, IL-14
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Lamont Robinson
Illinois State House of Representatives, District 5
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Ken Mejia-Beal
Illinois State House of Representatives, District 42
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Levander "Van" Smith Jr.
Circuit Court Judge of Cook County
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Robin L. Kelly
U.S. House of Representatives, IL-02
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Erika Weaver
U.S. House of Representatives, IL-15
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Robert Peters
Illinois State Senate, District 13
Election Date: November 3, 2020
DeShawn Williams
Champaign County Board, District 6
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Chaundra Bishop
Champaign County Coroner
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Indiana
Jeannine Lee Lake
U.S. House of Representatives, IN-06
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Belinda Drake
Indiana State Senate, District 32
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Dr. Woody Myers
Indiana Governor
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Iowa
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
Kansas
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
Kentucky
Pamela Stevenson
Kentucky State House of Representatives, District 43
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Attica Scott
Kentucky State House of Representatives, District 41
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Lamar Allen
Kentucky State House of Representatives, District 56
Election Date:
Dustin Burley
Kentucky State House of Representatives, District 53
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Angela Evans
Council Member, District 6
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Louisiana
Sandra "Candy" Christophe
U.S. House of Representatives, LA-05
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Diedre Pierce Kelly
Louisiana State Central Committee and County Committee
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Sharon Weston Broome
Mayor-President, Baton Rouge
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Maine
Rachel Talbot Ross
Maine State House of Representatives, District 40
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Dr. Richard Evans
Maine State House of Representatives, District 120
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Maryland
Shebra Evans
Montgomery County Board of Education, District 4
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Brandon Scott
Mayor, Baltimore
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Maria Mandela Vismale
Baltimore City Council, District 5
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Massachusetts
Ayanna Pressley
U.S. House of Representatives, MA-07
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Michigan
Brenda Lawrence
U.S. House of Representatives, MI-14
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Cynthia A. Johnson
Michigan State House of Representatives, District 5
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Kyra Harris Bolden
Michigan State House of Representatives, District 35
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Felicia Brabec
Michigan State House of Representatives, District 55
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Domonique Clemons
Genesee County Commission, District 4
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Chokwe Pitchford
Michigan State House of Representatives, District 79
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Minnesota
John Thompson
Minnesota State House of Representatives, District 67A
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Ilhan Omar
U.S. House of Representatives, MN-05
Election Date: November 3, 2020
DeVonna Pittman
Hennepin County Commissioner
Election Date: November 3, 2020
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Ruth Richardson
Minnesota State House of Representatives, District 52B
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Cedrick R. Frazier
Minnesota State House of Representatives, District 45A
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Mississippi
Mike Espy
U.S. Senate
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Missouri
Cori Bush
U.S. House of Representatives, MO-01
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Cori Bush was featured alongside Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in Netflix’s Knock Down The House (2019) that follows four working class women running for Congress.
Melissa Robinson
Kansas City City Council
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Alissia Canady
Lieutenant Governor
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Tishaura O. Jones
St. Louis City Treasurer
Election Date: November 3, 2020
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Dr. Gena Ross
U.S. House of Representatives, MO-06
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Yinka Faleti
Missouri Secretary of State
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Montana
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
Nebraska
Marque Snow
Nebraska State House of Representatives, District 9
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Terrell McKinney
Nebraska Legislature, District 11
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Nevada
Daniele Monroe-Moreno
Moreno Assembly, District 1
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Clara Thomas
Nevada Assembly, District 17
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Belinda Harris
North Las Vegas Justice Court, Department 3
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Tierra Jones
District Court Judge, Department 10
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Brittney Miller
Nevada Assembly, District 5
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Dallas Harris
Nevada State Senate, District 11
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Pat Spearman
Nevada State Senate, District 1
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Howard Watts
Nevada Assembly, District 15
Election Date: November 3, 2020
New Hampshire
Melanie Levesque
New Hampshire State Senate, District 12
Election Date: November 3, 2020
New Jersey
Cory Booker
U.S. Senate
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Bonnie Watson Coleman
U.S. House of Representatives, NJ-12
Election Date: November 3, 2020
New Mexico
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
New York
Zellnor Myrie
New York State Senate, District 20
Election Date: November 3, 2020
New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie calls for the passing of bills to increase police accountability throughout New York state on June 4, 2020 in New York City. Myrie was pepper sprayed and handcuffed during a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in Brooklyn while demanding justice for George Floyd’s murder.
Rita Joseph
New York City Council, District 40
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Samra Brouk
New York State Senate, District 55
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Amoy Barnes
Staten Island City Council, District 49
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Jackie Gordon
U.S. House of Representatives, NY-02
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Jamaal Bowman
U.S. House of Representatives, NY-16
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Mondaire Jones
U.S. House of Representatives, NY-17
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Roxanne Persaud
New York State Senate, District 19
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Jabari Brisport
New York State Senate, District 25
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Yvette D. Clarke
U.S. House of Representatives, NY-09
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Amanda Septimo
New York Assembly, District 84
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Kemi Akindude
U.S. House of Representatives, NY-11
Election Date: November 3, 2020
North Carolina
DeAndrea Salvador
North Carolina State Senate, District 39
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Sydney Batch
North Carolina State House of Representatives, District 37
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Kimberly Hardy
North Carolina State House of Representatives, District 43
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Frances Jackson
North Carolina State House of Representatives, District 45
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Pat Timmons-Goodson
U.S. House of Representatives, NC-08
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Aimy Steele
North Carolina State House of Representatives, District 82
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Evelyn Terry
North Carolina State House of Representatives, District 71
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Jean Farmer-Butterfield
North Carolina State House of Representatives, District 24
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Jessica Holmes
Commissioner of Labor
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Natalie Murdock
North Carolina State Senate, District 20
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Rosa Gill
North Carolina State Senate, District 33
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Vernetta Alston
North Carolina State House of Representatives, District 29
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Yvonne Lewis Holley
Lieutenant Governor
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Cheri Beasley
North Carolina Supreme Court Justice
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Cynthia Wallace
U.S. House of Representatives, NC-09
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Alma Adams
U.S. House of Representatives, NC-12
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Tiffani Koonce-Crawford
Lenoir County Commissioner
Election Date: November 3, 2020
North Dakota
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
Ohio
Emilia Sykes
Ohio State House of Representatives, District 34
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Janine Boyd
Ohio State House of Representatives, District 9
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Juanita Brent
Ohio State House of Representatives, District 12
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Catherine Ingram
Ohio State House of Representatives, District 32
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Leronda Jackson
Ohio State House of Representatives, District 40
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Phil Robinson
Ohio State House of Representatives, District 6
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Joyce Beatty
U.S. House of Representatives, OH-03
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Vanessa Enoch
U.S. House of Representatives, OH-08
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Desiree Tims
U.S. House of Representatives, OH-10
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Marcia Fudge
U.S. House of Representatives, OH-11
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Laverne Gore
U.S. House of Representatives, OH-11
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Lasheyl Stroud
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Oklahoma
Danyell Lanier
U.S. House of Representatives, OK-02
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Mauree Turner
Oklahoma State House of Representatives, District 88
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Oregon
Janelle Bynum
Oregon State House of Representatives, District 351
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Pennsylvania
Claudette Williams
Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, District 176
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Summer Lee
Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, District 34
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Malcolm Kenyatta
Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, District 181
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Rhode Island
Jennifer Rourke
Rhode Island State Senate, District 29
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Marcia Ranglin
Rhode Island State House of Representatives, District 5
Election Date: November 3, 2020
South Carolina
Jaime Harrison
U.S. Senate
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Helen Pendarvis
South Carolina State House of Representatives, District 35
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Melissa Watson
U.S. House of Representatives, SC-07
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Jermaine Johnson
South Carolina State House of Representatives, District 80
Election Date: November 3, 2020
JA Moore
South Carolina State House of Representatives, District 15
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Kambrell Garvin
South Carolina State House of Representatives, District 77
Election Date: November 3, 2020
South Dakota
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
Tennessee
Marquita Bradshaw
U.S. Senate
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Erika Stotts Pearson
U.S. House of Representatives, TN-08
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Brandon Thomas
Tennessee State House of Representatives, District 49
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Torrey Harris
Tennessee State House of Representatives, District 90
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Texas
Adrienne Bell
U.S. House of Representatives, TX-14
Election Date: November 3, 2020
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Candace Valenzuela
U.S. House of Representatives, TX-24
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Candace Valenzuela is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to serve Texas’s 24th congressional district. If Valenzuela wins, she will be the first Black Latina in Congress.
Rhetta Bowers
Texas State House of Representatives, District 113
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Sheila Jackson Lee
U.S. House of Representatives, TX-18
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Eddie Bernice Johnson
U.S. House of Representatives, TX-30
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Aurora Martinez Jones
Texas State Court, 126th District Judge
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Christian Menefee
Harris County Attorney
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Akilah Bacy
Texas State House of Representatives, District 138
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Utah
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
Vermont
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
Virginia
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
Washington
Joy Stanford
Washington State House of Representatives, District 26, Position 1
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Jamila Taylor
Washington State House of Representatives, District 30, Position 1
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Sharonda Amamilo
Thurston County Superior Court Judge, Position 8
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Kirsten Harris-Talley
Washington State House of Representatives, District 37, Position 2
Election Date: November 3, 2020
April Berg
Washington State House of Representatives, District 44
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Marilyn Strickland
U.S. House of Representatives, WA-10
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Washington, D.C.
Janeese Lewis George
City Council Ward, District 4
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Eleanor Holmes Norton
U.S. House of Representatives, DC-00
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Christina Henderson
D.C. City Council At-Large
Election Date: November 3, 2020
West Virginia
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
Wisconsin
LaTonya Johnson
Wisconsin State Senate, District 6
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Shelia Stubbs
Wisconsin State Assembly, District 77
Election Date: November 3, 2020
LaKeshia Myers
State Assembly, District 12
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Gwen Moore
U.S. House of Representatives, WI-04
Election Date: November 3, 2020
Wyoming
This state will be updated with applicable candidates.
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