List of African-American statewide elected officials

This is a list of African Americans who have served in statewide elected executive offices in the United States, whether they were elected, succeeded or appointed to such elected office. These state constitutional officers have their duties and qualifications mandated in state constitutions. This list includes those directly elected to state constitutional boards and commissions, whether statewide or by district. This list does not include those elected to serve in non-executive branches of government, such as justices of the state supreme courts or at-large members of the state legislatures. This list also excludes federal legislators, such as the two members of the United States Senate elected from each state or at-large members of the United States House of Representatives.

Summary +StateNumber of statewide executive officialsU.S. SenatorsU.S. at-large RepresentativesTotalNotesArizona11Arkansas11California526Kamala Harris held office as Attorney General and later as U.S. SenatorColorado33Connecticut55Delaware2113Lisa Blunt Rochester has held office as U.S. Representative and U.S. SenatorFlorida415Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs held office as Secretary of State and State Superintendent. Georgia314Illinois436 Roland Burris held office as Comptroller, Attorney General and U.S. SenatorIndiana44Kansas11Kentucky22Louisiana55Maryland415Massachusetts324Edward Brooke held office as Attorney General and U.S. SenatorMichigan33Minnesota11Mississippi729As of 2025, all of Mississippi's African-American statewide officials and Senators took office during Reconstruction. Nevada11New Jersey819New Mexico11New York99North Carolina44Ohio33Oklahoma11Oregon11Pennsylvania11South Carolina5116Francis Lewis Cardozo held office as Secretary of State and State Treasurer. Texas22Vermont11Virginia33Wisconsin33

Governors

Italics denotes acting governor

PortraitNamePartyStateTerm startTerm endNotesRepublicanLouisianaElevated from lieutenant governor.Died in office.RepublicanLouisianaElevated from lieutenant governor.Term ended.Previously served as lieutenant governor.DemocraticVirginiaTerm-limited.DemocraticMassachusettsRetiredDemocraticNew YorkElevated to office from lieutenant governor.Retired.DemocraticMarylandpresent

Territorial governors

Italics denotes acting governor

PortraitNamePartyTerritoryTerm startTerm endNotesDemocraticDistrict of ColumbiaAppointed as Mayor-Commissioner before being elected in his own rightLost renominationRepublicanUnited States Virgin IslandsAppointed as civilian governor before being elected in his own rightLost electionDemocraticDistrict of ColumbiaRetiredRetiredDemocraticDistrict of ColumbiaLost renominationDemocraticDistrict of ColumbiaRetiredDemocraticDistrict of ColumbiaLost renominationDemocraticDistrict of ColumbiaLost renominationDemocraticDistrict of Columbiapresent

Lieutenant governors

Italics denotes acting lieutenant governor

PortraitNamePartyStateTerm startTerm endNotesRepublicanLouisianaDiedLater served as U.S. Representative from South Carolina's 2nd congressional district.RepublicanRetired to run successfully for South Carolina's 2nd congressional districtRepublicanMississippiRetiredRepublicanLouisianaElevated to governorRepublicanSouth CarolinaLost reelectionRepublicanLouisianaLost reelectionLater served as U.S. Representative from California's 31st congressional district.DemocraticCaliforniaLost reelectionDemocraticColoradoRetiredDemocraticVirginiaRetired to run successfully for governorRepublicanColoradoRetiredRepublicanOhioResigned to become Ohio TreasurerLater served as Chair of the Republican National Committee.RepublicanMarylandRetired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senator of MarylandDemocraticNew YorkElevated to governorDemocraticMarylandRetired to run unsuccessfully for governorDemocraticNew YorkResignedRepublicanFloridaResignedRepublicanMarylandRetiredRepublicanKentuckyRetiredDemocraticVirginiaRetired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governorDemocraticNew JerseyDiedGarlin GilchristDemocraticMichiganpresentDemocraticWisconsinRetired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. senatorDemocraticIllinoisJanuary 14, 2019present RepublicanNorth CarolinaJanuary 9, 2021January 1, 2025Retired to run unsuccessfully for governor DemocraticNew YorkNew Lieutenant Governor appointedNew Lieutenant Governor appointedDemocraticNew YorkSeptember 9, 2021April 12, 2022ResignedRepublicanVirginiaJanuary 15, 2022January 17, 2026Retired to run unsuccessfully for governorDemocraticNew YorkMay 25, 2022presentDemocraticPennsylvaniaJanuary 17, 2023present DemocraticNew JerseySeptember 8, 2023January 20, 2026New Lieutenant Governor appointedDale CaldwellDemocraticNew JerseyJanuary 20, 2026September 25, 2026Resigned

Attorneys general

Italics denotes acting attorney general

PictureNamePartyStateTerm startTerm endNotesRefRepublicanMassachusettsRetired to run successfully for U.S. Senate from Massachusetts DemocraticIllinoisRetired to run unsuccessfully for Governor of Illinois DemocraticIndianaRetiredContemporary Black Biography, Volume 67, p. 12.Jennifer M. York, Who's Who Among African Americans. Gale, 2003.DemocraticGeorgiaRetired to run unsuccessfully for Governor of GeorgiaDemocraticIndianaLost reelectionDemocraticNew JerseyRetired.DemocraticCaliforniaRetired to run successfully for U.S. Senate from CaliforniaRepublicanIndianaLost renominationDemocraticNew YorkpresentDemocraticIllinoispresentDemocraticNevadapresentDemocraticMinnesotapresent RepublicanKentuckyRetired to run unsuccessfully for Governor of Kentucky DemocratMarylandpresentAndrea CampbellDemocratMassachusettsJanuary 18, 2023presentJay JonesDemocraticVirginiaJanuary 17, 2026present

Territorial attorneys general

Italics denotes acting attorney general

Picture NamePartyTerritoryTerm startTerm endNotesRefDemocraticDistrict of Columbia

Secretaries of state

Italics denotes acting secretary of state

PictureNamePartyStateTerm startTerm endNotesRefRepublicanFlorida18681872Retired to run successfully for Superintendent of Public Instruction RepublicanLouisiana18721876Retired RepublicanMississippi18691872Retired RepublicanMississippi18721873Retired RepublicanMississippi18731873Retired M. M. McLeodRepublicanMississippi18731873Retired James HillRepublicanMississippi18741878Retired RepublicanSouth Carolina18681872Retired to run successfully for State Treasurer RepublicanSouth Carolina18721877Resigned DemocraticMichiganLost re-election DemocraticNew YorkRetiredDemocraticFloridaRetiredDemocraticWisconsinLost re-nomination DemocraticTexasRetired DemocraticOklahoma19871991Retired RepublicanColorado19941999Died RepublicanNew Jersey19941998Retired RepublicanNew JerseyRetired RepublicanOhioRetired to run unsuccessfully for governor DemocraticIllinoisRetired DemocraticNew York20012005Retired DemocraticNew Jersey20022006Retired DemocraticNew JerseyRetired RepublicanGeorgiaRetired DemocraticNew JerseySeptember 8, 2023January 20, 2026New Secretary of State appointedDale CaldwellDemocraticNew JerseyJanuary 20, 2026September 25, 2026Resigned DemocraticCaliforniapresent DemocraticConnecticutpresent DemocraticNew JerseypresentAppointed after Caldwell's resignation

Labor commissioners

Italics denotes acting labor commissioner

PictureNamePartyStateTerm startTerm endNotesRefDemocraticGeorgia19901992Appointed by governor, lost special election primaryDemocraticGeorgiaRetired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate

Auditors and comptrollers

Italics denotes acting auditor or comptroller

PictureNamePartyStateTerm startTerm endNotesRepublicanKansasLost re-nominationDemocraticIllinoisRetired to run successfully for Attorney General of IllinoisDemocraticNew YorkRetired to run unsuccessfully for GovernorDemocraticNorth CarolinaLost re-electionRepublicanVermontLost reelectionRepublicanIndianaResignedDemocraticConnecticutRetiredRepublicanPennsylvaniapresentDemocraticSouth Carolinapresent

Superintendents of education

Italics denotes acting superintendent

PictureNamePartyStateTerm startTerm endNotesRefRepublicanLouisiana 1872 1876Lost reelectionRepublicanMississippi 1873 1875Lost reelectionRepublicanArkansas 1873 1875Lost reelectionRepublicanFlorida18721874DiedDemocraticCalifornia 1971 1983Lost reelectionDemocraticFlorida 1994 1995Lost reelectionDemocraticNorth CarolinaRetiredDemocraticWisconsinRetiredDemocraticCalifornia presentDemocraticNorth Carolina present

Treasurers

Italics denotes acting treasurer

PictureNamePartyStateTerm startTerm endNotesRepublicanLouisiana18681878Retired RepublicanSouth CarolinaRetiredDemocraticConnecticut19631970ResignedDemocraticConnecticut19741986Resigned RepublicanMichigan19781982RetiredDemocraticNew Mexico19851990Retired20072015Retired DemocraticConnecticutResignedDemocraticOregonRetired DemocraticConnecticutLost electionDemocraticMaryland19962002RetiredDemocraticConnecticutRetiredRepublicanOhioLost renominationDemocraticNew JerseySeptember 2007January 2008RetiredDemocraticDelawareLost renominationDemocraticOhioLost reelectionDemocraticDelawareRetiredDemocraticConnecticutRetiredDemocraticConnecticutpresentIncumbent

Public utilities or railroad commissioners

Italics denotes acting public utilities or railroad commissioner

PictureNamePartyStateTerm startTerm endNotesJ. C. WattsRepublicanOklahoma1995Resigned after being elected for Oklahoma's 4th congressional districtDavid BurgessDemocraticGeorgia1998Lost re-electionMichael L. WilliamsRepublicanTexasResignedDemocraticArizonaLost re-electionFitz JohnsonRepublicanGeorgiaAugust 26, 2021January 1, 2026Alicia JohnsonDemocraticGeorgiaJanuary 1, 2026present

Elected State Boards of Education PictureNamePartyStateTerm startTerm endNotesAlma AllenDemocraticTexas19952005Lawrence Allen Jr.DemocraticTexas20052023Aicha DavisDemocraticTexas20192024 Resigned to run successfully for Texas House of Representatives Staci ChildsDemocraticTexas2023present LJ FrancisRepublicanTexas2023present

List of African-American statewide elected officials

Bron en licentie