Blunt Rochester to become the first woman and first Black person to represent Delaware in US Senate

Associated Press

DOVER, Del. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester will become the first woman and first Black person to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate. Only three other Black women have served in the chamber, two of whom were elected and one who was appointed. Blunt Rochester defeated Republican Eric Hansen on Tuesday to fill the seat left vacant by fellow Democrat Tom Carper. Carper handpicked Blunt Rochester as his preferred successor when he announced his retirement last year. Blunt Rochester once interned for Carper when he was in the House and also served in his cabinet when he was governor. She has served four terms at Delaware’s lone representative in the U.S. House.