Maryland Del. Karen Toles (D) has been the witness of African American history since joining her state’s General Assembly in 2022, representing District 25 in Prince George’s County.
She is serving under the Maryland’s first Black governor, Wes Moore, and lights up when her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sister, Vice President Kamala Harris, is mentioned as the first African American female to get a major party nomination for president. However, Toles was smiling quietly and proudly on Dec. 4 at the National Black Caucus of State Legislators 48th Annual Legislative Conference at the Capitol Hilton Hotel in Northwest during the opening plenary when her colleague, Maryland Del. Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County), participated in a discussion with seven Black state legislative leaders.
Jones was elected as speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates in 2019 becoming the first Black and first female to serve in that position.
“I serve as a deputy majority whip in the House,” Toles, 48, said. “I support Speaker Jones. You don’t have that level of Black leadership across the country. I came to this opening plenary for Speaker Jones and seeking to learn what I can from other leaders.”
Jones was joined on the stage by Virginia Speaker Don L. Scott (D-Portsmouth), Pennsylvania Speaker Joanne E. McClinton (D-Philadelphia), Illinois Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch (D-Cook County), New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie (D-Bronx) and Minnesota State Senate President Bobby Joe Champion (D-Hennepin County). MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend moderated the discussion and Michigan Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) participated via Zoom.
Black Legislative Leaders Mix It Up
Before the discussion began, NBCSL President Alabama State Rep. Laura Hall (D-Huntsville) noted the importance of the moment.
“This is the first time in U.S. history that you have seven Black legislative leaders, six serving as speakers and one as a Senate president,” Hall, 81, said.
Hall also noted that Maine Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland) was being sworn into her state’s Senate on that day and on Nov. 11, Delaware state Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown (D-New Castle) became the first Black woman elected to lead that state’s House of Representatives functionally because of a vote by the Democratic majority.
Minor-Brown will take office in January and did not participate in the discussion.
Although they took pride in the power of the historic moment before them, Harris’ presidential defeat weighed heavily in the leaders’ minds.
“I know people are feeling dismayed or feeling down,” Scott, 59, said. “I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. We have been built for this time. Don’t believe in a party over God.”
McClinton, 42, said Harris’s loss was personal.
“I felt it was a slap in the face,” she said. “We still have a problem with sexism in politics. We have a problem with women ascending to power.”
Jones, 70, acknowledged that sexism and racism are factors in politics but urged her fellow leaders to continue their work and good things will happen.
“I had no idea that I would become speaker,” she said.
Welch, 53, said Harris won Illinois comfortably “by doing the work.”
“Winners do the work,” he said. “As far as Trump is concerned, nobody should be surprised. He is doing what he told us he was going to do.”
Heastie said it was critical that leaders stay in touch with their constituents and attend to their needs.
“People voted on the basis of their quality of life,” Heastie, 57, said. “Understanding their struggle was the key. A lot of Democrats stayed home on Election Day. We have to get back to pocketbook issues.”
Sanders queried how the leaders managed to get things done, with the “give and take” nature of politics.
Heastie said, “you have to know when to lead and when to follow.”
“Government is the art of compromise,” he continued.
Celebrating her state’s statistics, McClinton issued a call to action.
“One-third of the Democrats in the Pennsylvania House are Black,” said McClinton. “We are unapologetically Black. Other groups stand up for themselves and we should do the same. We should be who we are.”
Scott encouraged his colleagues not to be afraid to take a stand, whether it is on issues or legislative matters.
“Use your voice,” he said. “Stand up and lead. We as a people will survive and persevere.”
