05/19/2026
Today, we honor the Black state legislative leaders on the front lines of the fight to protect voting rights, democracy, and representation across the South.
While mainstream media and many national content creators continue to overlook the critical role of state legislatures, these leaders are carrying the weight of defending access to the ballot box, standing against voter suppression, and protecting the voices of millions.
From North Carolina to Virginia, from Tennessee to Louisiana, these leaders are not simply responding to attacks on democracy — they are organizing, legislating, leading, and fighting every single day.
We salute:
North Carolina
Senator Sydney Batch
Representative Robert Reives
South Carolina
Representative J. Todd Rutherford
Georgia
Senator Harold Jones
Representative Carolyn Hugley
Tennessee
Senator Raumesh Akbari
Representative Karen Camper
Louisiana
Senator Regina Barrow
Representative Kyle Green
Senator Gerald Boudreaux
Mississippi
Representative Robert Johnson III
Senator Derrick Simmons
Virginia
Delegate Don Scott
Senator L. Louise Lucas
Delegate Charniele Herring
These leaders deserve more than silence.
They deserve recognition, amplification, and support.
Black state legislative leadership matters because state legislatures matter.