Lisa Blunt Rochester is making history and will become the first black female senator in the state of Delaware – Essence

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester will join the distinguished ranks of Black women who’ve served in the U.S. Senate. She defeated her Republican opponent Eric Hansen and independent Mike Katz; as of 20:45 she received 56.2% of the votes, – reports the Associated Press.

Blunt Rochester, who made history eight years ago when she became the first black person and first woman to represent Delaware in Congress, was heavily favored to win the Senate race in a reliably blue state. But her rise from a 54-12 months-old widow with no political campaign experience in 2016 to the upper echelons of political power in Delaware was removed from guaranteed.

During her campaign, Blunt Rochester took nothing as a right, and in her victory speech she promised that she would work for everybody, whether or not they voted for her or not. She also had an optimistic outlook, remembering the church her grandmother attended for many years and that served as her spiritual home, Bright Hope Church. She vowed to serve her constituents with “bright hope.” “A bright hope is not content with what we see, but brings to life what we dream of. Bright hope is not just about making history, but about making change,” she said.

Blunt Rochester brings a wealth of experience to the Senate, having spent the last eight years in Congress. Blunt Rochester also began her profession working in government. She began working in 1989 as an intern for then-Delaware congressman Tom Carper, and later became a social employee in his constituent relations office. When Carper was elected governor of Delaware, he appointed Blunt Rochester deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in 1993 and secretary of the Department of Labor in 1998. Carper’s successor, Ruth Ann Minner, named Blunt Rochester state personnel director, a position he had held for years. 2001-2004. Blunt Rochester continues to cover economic and labor issues and is the founder and co-chair of the House Future of Work Caucus.

Some of the priorities she has pledged to work on in the Senate include creating more good-paying jobs, securing reproductive freedom and protecting access to health care.

Blunt Rochester will take office on January 3, 2025.