Meet Washington's Newest Black Power Players

Mia Love, Brenda Lawrence and Will Hurd to join Congress.

A New Year and a Very New Congress - When the 114th Congress convenes on Jan. 6, 2015, Republicans will have a lot to crow about. For the first time in a long time, the party will control both chambers, and the House will celebrate its biggest majority in decades. At the same time, the Congressional Black Caucus will enjoy a boost in its numbers to 46. Mia Love, the House's only Black Republican woman, has decided to join the group, while Texas Rep. Will Hurd is still making up his mind. Here's a first look at the new members. —  Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

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A New Year and a Very New Congress - When the 114th Congress convenes on Jan. 6, 2015, Republicans will have a lot to crow about. For the first time in a long time, the party will control both chambers, and the House will celebrate its biggest majority in decades. At the same time, the Congressional Black Caucus will enjoy a boost in its numbers to 46. Mia Love, the House's only Black Republican woman, has decided to join the group, while Texas Rep. Will Hurd is still making up his mind. Here's a first look at the new members. —  Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, New Jersey - Bonnie Watson Coleman is the first African-American woman ever and first woman in more than a decade to represent New Jersey in Congress. Watson Coleman previously was a member of the state assembly in the same seat held by her late father John Watson. As a member of Congress, Watson Coleman says, she is representing "a bigger community but with the same responsibility." (Photo: Courtesy of New Jersey Assembly Office)

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Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, New Jersey - Bonnie Watson Coleman is the first African-American woman ever and first woman in more than a decade to represent New Jersey in Congress. Watson Coleman previously was a member of the state assembly in the same seat held by her late father John Watson. As a member of Congress, Watson Coleman says, she is representing "a bigger community but with the same responsibility." (Photo: Courtesy of New Jersey Assembly Office)

Rep. Will Hurd, Texas - Former CIA operative Will Hurd will be one of two African-Americans serving on the Republican side of the aisle after defeating former Rep. Pete Gallego, a Democrat. He has been appointed to the Homeland Security Committee, which will enable him to focus on border security issues that are a big concern in Texas and the Government Reform and Oversight committees. Hurd also aims to push the lower chamber to finally do its job. “Congress has an approval rating which is lower than the BP oil spill or Paris Hilton, which is pretty crazy,” he told a local newspaper in December. (Photo: Will Hurd for Congress via Facebook)

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Rep. Will Hurd, Texas - Former CIA operative Will Hurd will be one of two African-Americans serving on the Republican side of the aisle after defeating former Rep. Pete Gallego, a Democrat. He has been appointed to the Homeland Security Committee, which will enable him to focus on border security issues that are a big concern in Texas and the Government Reform and Oversight committees. Hurd also aims to push the lower chamber to finally do its job. “Congress has an approval rating which is lower than the BP oil spill or Paris Hilton, which is pretty crazy,” he told a local newspaper in December. (Photo: Will Hurd for Congress via Facebook)

Rep. Mia Love, Utah - Mia Love's second bid to represent Utah in Congress proved to be the winning ticket, and in January she will make history as the House's first Haitian-American, Mormon female Republican. The former Sarasota Springs mayor had hoped to be assigned to the Energy and Commerce Committee, but will instead serve on Financial Services, her second choice. "The important work done by this committee over the next two years will have a direct impact on ensuring that our nation’s economy continues to improve," she said in a statement, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. "For me, this mission begins with clearing away harmful regulatory burdens that keep our businesses from creating jobs and getting Utahns back to work." (Photo: Mia Love via Twitter)

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Rep. Mia Love, Utah - Mia Love's second bid to represent Utah in Congress proved to be the winning ticket, and in January she will make history as the House's first Haitian-American, Mormon female Republican. The former Sarasota Springs mayor had hoped to be assigned to the Energy and Commerce Committee, but will instead serve on Financial Services, her second choice. "The important work done by this committee over the next two years will have a direct impact on ensuring that our nation’s economy continues to improve," she said in a statement, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. "For me, this mission begins with clearing away harmful regulatory burdens that keep our businesses from creating jobs and getting Utahns back to work." (Photo: Mia Love via Twitter)

Sen. Tim Scott, South Carolina - Tim Scott has been serving in the U.S. Senate since 2012 when Gov. Nikki Haley appointed him to replace retiring Sen. Jim DeMint. In a November special election, the voters elected him by a landslide to complete the remaining two years of DeMint's term. He also is the first African-American from the South since Reconstruction elected to serve in the U.S. Senate. The South Carolina lawmaker's stock is on the rise now that Republicans are taking control of the upper chamber. In addition to serving on the panel that made committee assignments, Scott got a plum assignment on the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. He will also continue to serve on the committees on Health Education Labor and Pensions; Small Business and Entrepreneurship; and Aging. (Photo: Kim Kim Foster-Tobin/The State/MCT)

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Sen. Tim Scott, South Carolina - Tim Scott has been serving in the U.S. Senate since 2012 when Gov. Nikki Haley appointed him to replace retiring Sen. Jim DeMint. In a November special election, the voters elected him by a landslide to complete the remaining two years of DeMint's term. He also is the first African-American from the South since Reconstruction elected to serve in the U.S. Senate. The South Carolina lawmaker's stock is on the rise now that Republicans are taking control of the upper chamber. In addition to serving on the panel that made committee assignments, Scott got a plum assignment on the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. He will also continue to serve on the committees on Health Education Labor and Pensions; Small Business and Entrepreneurship; and Aging. (Photo: Kim Kim Foster-Tobin/The State/MCT)

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Rep. Brenda Lawrence, Michigan - Brenda Lawrence will represent Michigan in the new Congress after handily defeating former congressman Hanson Clarke in the primary and Christina Conyers, a Republican and relative of veteran Rep. John Conyers. It was the former Southfield mayor's second congressional run. She also served on the Southfield City Council from 1997-2001. Her newly elected House colleagues have already demonstrated their belief in her leadership skills by electing her freshman class whip. Whips are also known as enforcers, whose job it is to help ensure their members tow the party line, particularly during votes. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

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Rep. Brenda Lawrence, Michigan - Brenda Lawrence will represent Michigan in the new Congress after handily defeating former congressman Hanson Clarke in the primary and Christina Conyers, a Republican and relative of veteran Rep. John Conyers. It was the former Southfield mayor's second congressional run. She also served on the Southfield City Council from 1997-2001. Her newly elected House colleagues have already demonstrated their belief in her leadership skills by electing her freshman class whip. Whips are also known as enforcers, whose job it is to help ensure their members tow the party line, particularly during votes. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Rep. Alma Adams, North Carolina - Alma Adams made history when she became the 100th woman to be elected to Congress. The former state representative was elected to complete the final weeks of Rep. Mel Watt's term, which was unrepresented since he stepped down 10 months ago to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and to a full two-year term. She is hoping to be assigned to the Financial Services and Education and the Workforce committees. (Photo: Chris Keane/Landov)

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Rep. Alma Adams, North Carolina - Alma Adams made history when she became the 100th woman to be elected to Congress. The former state representative was elected to complete the final weeks of Rep. Mel Watt's term, which was unrepresented since he stepped down 10 months ago to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and to a full two-year term. She is hoping to be assigned to the Financial Services and Education and the Workforce committees. (Photo: Chris Keane/Landov)