While Kamala Harris awaits her fate in becoming America’s first woman and Black woman president, the vp is leading an extended list of Black women who will likely be on the ballot across the country in the upcoming general election.

In addition to Harris’ presidential bid, dozens of Black women are running for president, including U.S. Senate candidates Lisa Blunt Rochester in Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks in Maryland.

According to Higher Heights for America, approx 600 black women will likely be on the ballot in Tuesday’s general election.

Glynda Carr, co-founder and president of the Higher Heights Leadership Fund, said this historic moment in which black women rose and fell in the elections was “ten years in the making.”

Since 2014, when Higher Heights and the Center for American Women in Politics officially monitored the status of black women in politics, it has seen a “gradual increase in the number of black women.”

Statistics from 2014 show that “only 18 black women have served in Congress. We now have 31 of them,” Carr emphasized.

In 2016, Kamala Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate and Lisa Blunt Rochester was elected to the House of Representatives. Now Angela Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester, together with Harris, have created what women’s advocates call a “pipeline” through which other black women can run.

If each Blunt Rochester and Alsobrooks are elected to their respective Senate races, it should be the first time in history that more than one black woman has served in the upper house of Congress at one time.

Carr believes the first Black woman winner announced Tuesday night will likely be Blunt Rochester of Delaware. Polls indicate that Blunt Rochester, the current Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, suggestions his Republican opponent by more than 20%.

As we consider the historical possibilities of this election, additionally it is essential to recollect the legacy of former U.S. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to run for president in 1972. Chisholm predicted that women and minorities would find a better path in politics “because I helped pave it.”

In 1974 at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in Chisholm he said“Black women have an obligation to move from the periphery of organized politics to its mainstream arena.”

Boykin-Towns clearly points out that historically, Black women have been the backbone of many social and political movements, and their perspectives are invaluable in shaping policies geared toward ensuring equality and justice for all.

“For the first time, we are seeing Black women in places where they can influence decisions on key issues like health care, economic reform, criminal justice and voting rights,” said Boykin-Towns, the highest-ranking Black woman in the society’s leadership NAACP. “This visibility not only inspires future generations, but also challenges old barriers in politics, demonstrating that diverse voices are essential to a strong democracy.”

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The final NBC News poll shows a major drop in support for Donald Trump among black voters.

Questionnaire released Sunday revealed an especially tight 2024 presidential campaign race between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican candidate former President Donald Trump, with each tied at 49%. However, there are significant differences in support across different voter demographics.

The poll shows Harris has the most important lead over Trump among Black voters (87%-9%), young voters under 30 (57%-41%), and college-educated white voters (55%-43%). Trump’s 9% approval rating among black voters is down from the 12% he received within the 2020 election against Joe Biden.

Other key splits show Harris leading among women by 16 points (57%-41%) and Trump leading among men by 18 points (58%-40%). Harris also has a major 20-point lead over Trump relating to which candidate is seen as higher at handling the abortion issue, and has a bonus relating to which candidate is higher at caring for the center class.

Overall, the poll shows a disagreement between Harris and Trump, with each receiving 49% support from registered voters in a head-to-head matchup, while only 2% of voters remain undecided. Trump holds a slight lead over Harris among white voters and people and not using a college degree, leading by 2 points at 50-48%.

The popularity of Harris and Trump is almost equal: 43% of voters have a positive opinion of Harris and 50% have a negative opinion. For comparison, Trump has 42% positive rankings and 51% negative rankings. When it comes to manage of Congress, 47% of voters prefer Democrats to steer Congress, while 46% favor Republican control.

Because of the nationwide Electoral College system, the end result of the presidential election will ultimately rely on the ends in key battleground states akin to Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Like the ultimate NBC poll, the newest polls from swing states show tight races and uncertainty.

Regardless of the end result of the presidential election, 60% of registered voters consider the United States will remain divided, while only 28% consider it’s going to grow to be more united after the 2024 election.

Election week finally arrived; a day that, not without reason, we greet with double optimism and fear. As we wait for the election results and subsequent reactions, it is vital to concentrate on the wellness and sweetness practices that keep us grounded.

Regardless of the election result, emotions shall be high and will spark social unrest, which could cause significant concern for marginalized groups. As evidenced by past elections and the January 6 revolt, American society often finds itself in a polarized and reactive state. The potential consequence of a Black woman’s election to the presidency raises hope in lots of and outrage in others, prompting some populations to concentrate on caring for themselves and their communities during this time.

Wellness and sweetness routines often go hand in hand and will be effective regulating practices to appease nerves. The ritualistic nature of makeup or skincare routines, mindfulness meditations, and prioritizing nutrition and rest are all ways to nourish yourself during difficult times. The immediate aftermath of results, whether higher or worse, is more likely to trigger emotionally charged experiences.

She tapped ESSENCE Dr. Robin OnwongPh.D., a provisionally licensed psychologist, to grasp how these decisions may impact Black women and what we are able to do to develop healthy habits.

First, it explains the function of the stress hormone, cortisol, and its context. “When cortisol levels are high for an prolonged time period (e.g., from the beginning of voter registration to Election Day to the inauguration), stress begins to build up and creates allostatic load. In other words, it weakens our immune system and increases the chance of mental health problems, heart problems, fatigue, lack of attention, poor nutrition, etc.

“Overall,” she continues, “most black women in the states were already experiencing high allostatic load, and the election season only deepened the collective sense of heaviness.”

“My encouragement, from both a human and clinical standpoint, is to manage the stress before and after the election whenever possible, focus on the fundamentals and stay on top of the controllables. This looks like building on well-being practices that focus on our basic human needs.”

Dr. Onwong’s list of straightforward areas we are able to start relieving stress include: eating nutritious meals and staying adequately hydrated, getting enough quality rest, and exercising. Additionally, she notes that other vital practices include breath work “which draws you into the present moment,” gratitude exercises, clearing your physical space, and being “a more gracious steward of your time on social media.”

It also points to the effectiveness of community, which may give some people a way of hope and security. In addition to home wellness methods, there are numerous shared spaces where you may seek emotional refuge. Below you can see resources so you may safely connect with others and never feel the necessity to face this stressful day alone.

Sister Song’s Election Party

Sister Song is a reproductive justice collective led by women of color based in Atlanta, Georgia. On November 5, they’re organizing a private “election party” with themes of sharing space, healing, creating artistic endeavors and being in community.