America’s Four Largest Cities Will Be Led By Black Mayors
With the historic election of Rep. Karen Bass—Los Angeles will enter a new age with its first female mayor and its second Black mayor. Bass, a six-term congresswoman, will join the mayors of New York City, Chicago, and Houston as America’s four largest cities who are all under Black leadership.
Bass will be sworn in on December 12.
“As Black mayors continue to win elections this cycle, we are excited that, for the first time, the four largest cities – New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago & Houston – are each led by an African American mayor,” the African American Mayors Association said on Thursday, per CNN.
All four mayors—Mayor Eric Adams in New York City, Mayor Sylvester Turner in Houston, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot in Chicago, who is currently running for reelection, are members of the Democratic Party.
Phyllis Dickerson, CEO of the African American Mayors Association, told CNN that she believes having the four cities under Black leadership will have a positive local and national impact. She notes that Black mayors bring a different perspective to public office and can identify not only problems they have experienced, like the need for public housing and food insecurities, but solutions to those issues.
“When you have the top four cities at the table, with the administration, I think that the conversation is definitely going to land where it needs to be,” Dickerson told the news outlet.
Bass’ election marks a surge of Black women running for office in all levels of government in recent years. A record number of 130 Black women ran for office after the 2020 election. That record was shattered with 145 Black women running during the 2022 midterm season.
Glynda Carr, president of Higher Heights for America told CNN, “If Americans truly want to see advancements in progressive policy and diverse representation in our government, we have to invest in Black women running in gubernatorial races, but investing doesn’t just mean money. We have to invest our time, energy and talents if we want to get Black women candidates across the finish line.”
