A Record Number of Black Women Are Running for US Congress According to NBC News, Arkansas state Senator Joyce Elliott is one of at least 122 Black or multi-racial Black women to file to run for U.S. Congress this year. If Elliott is elected in November, she will become the first-ever Black Congress member from Arkansas. According to Collective PAC, 60 Black women are still in the running. Pam Keith, politician, via NBC News Reuters spoke with eight of the Black women congressional candidates. Many of them feel they can better relate to voters because of the financial hardships they've endured. Jeannine Lee Lake, politician, via NBC News Kimberly Walker, politician, via NBC News