Changes in the Congressional Black Caucus in the Next Congress

David A. Bositis

August 21, 2006

There will be at least four changes in the composition of the Congressional Black Caucus in the next Congress. Representative Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) will be replaced by Hank Johnson in Georgia’s fourth congressional district, which is an unquestionably safe Democratic district.

Representative Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN), if elected to the U.S. Senate, will remain in the CBC, but with Barack Obama (D-IL) as part of its Senate contingent. If Ford loses, then he will either be replaced by his brother Jake or the CBC will lose a member.

Representative William Jefferson’s (D-LA) highly publicized legal problems, together with New Orleans’ reconfigured post-Katrina population, make it doubtful that he will serve in the 110th Congress. Louisiana will not be holding a primary this year and all candidates for the seat—both Democrats and Republicans—will be on the ballot on November 7. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, there will be a run-off between the top two on December 9.

Representative Major Owens (D-NY) is retiring. At this time, it is unclear who will replace him. The primary is September 12, and there are three black candidates and one white candidate running to replace him. The district has a black voting-age population of 60 percent. The black candidates are Representative Owens' son, Chris, State Senator Carl Andrews, and New York City Councilwoman Yvette Clarke. There has been speculation that the three black candidates may split the black vote, and the white candidate, New York City Councilman David Yassky, may gain the Democratic nomination in this safe Democratic district.