List of African-American Republicans

The following is a list of black Republicans, past and present. This list is limited to black Americans who have worked in a direct, professional capacity in politics.

A

Israel Abbott (1813–1887), Republican state representative from North Carolina, 1872–1874^[1]
David Abner (1826–1902), Republican state representative from Texas, 1874–1875, vice president of Republican State Convention 1876^[2]
Dinah Abrahamson (1954–2013), author, member of the Nebraska State Central Committee^[3]
John O. Agwunobi, Assistant Secretary for Health (2006–2007)
Ali Alexander (born 1984 or 1985), social media personality and activist, of African-American and Arab ancestry^[4]
Archie Alexander (1888–1958), governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands^[5]
Walter G. Alexander (1880–1953), first African-American to serve in the New Jersey Legislature^[6]
Aris T. Allen (1910–1991), chair of the Maryland Republican Party^[7]
Cheryl Lynn Allen (born 1947), judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania (2008–2015)
Claude Allen (born 1960), White House domestic policy advisor^[8]
Ethel D. Allen (1929–1981), Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, first African-American elected to Philadelphia City Council^[9]
Richard Allen (1830–1909), member of the Texas House of Representatives^[10]
James W. Ames (1864–1944), representative in the Michigan House of Representatives^[11]
Renee Amoore (1953–2020), health care advocate; founder and president of the Amoore Group, Inc.; former candidate for Republican National Committee co-chairwoman^[12]
Charles W. Anderson Jr. (1907–1960), first African-American legislator elected in Kentucky^[13]
Eddie Andrews (born 1966), member of the Iowa House of Representatives (2021–present)
John D. Anthony (born 1976), member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 75th district (2013–2016)^[14]
Caesar Antoine (1836–1921), 13th lieutenant governor of Louisiana^[15]
Benjamin W. Arnett (1838–1906), elected to Ohio General Assembly 1885^[16]
Alexander Asberry (1861–1903), member of the Texas House of Representatives^[17]

B

Pearl Bailey (1918–1990), singer, appointed "America's Ambassador of Love" by Richard Nixon^[18]
Anna Simms Banks (1862–1923), first female delegate at the Kentucky's 7th congressional district Convention in Kentucky^[19]
Laurence H. Banks (1897–1972), member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1947–1949) and Boston city council (1951–1952)
Jose Celso Barbosa (1857–1921), medical doctor, sociologist, political leader, one of the first persons of black African descent to receive a medical doctor degree in the United States, founder of Republican Party of Puerto Rico
Webster Barnaby (born 1959), member of the Florida House of Representatives^[20]
Martin G. Barnes (1948–2012), mayor of Paterson, New Jersey^[21]
Alfred S. Barnett (1858–1905), journalist, civil rights activist
Ferdinand L. Barnett (1834–1932), member, Nebraska House of Representatives (1926–1928)^[22]
Ferdinand Lee Barnett (1852–1936), journalist, lawyer, first African-American assistant state attorney^[23]
Kathy Barnette (born 1971), Republican candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district in 2020, and candidate for United States senator from Pennsylvania in 2022^[24]
Andrea Barthwell (b. 1953/1954), former deputy director for Demand Reduction at the Office of National Drug Control Policy^[25]
Tony Barton (born 1961), pastor, member of Kansas House of Representatives 2015–2017^[26]
Houston A.P. Bassett (1857–1920), member of the Texas House of Representatives^[27]
Thomas Beck (1819–?), member of the Texas House of Representatives
Julius W. Becton Jr. (1926–2013), director of FEMA (1985–1989)
Ashley Bell, national director of African American Engagement Office, director of the Small Business Administration's Southeast Region^[28]
Loyeau Berhel, mayor of Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1871)
Michelle Bernard (born 1963), journalist, author, columnist
Walter Blackman, Arizona state representative^[29]
J. Kenneth Blackwell (born 1948), former Ohio state treasurer and secretary of state; 2006 Republican candidate for governor of Ohio
Donald Blakey (born 1936), member of the Delaware House of Representatives
Edward David Bland (1848–1927), member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Lynette Boggs (born 1963), Las Vegas City councilwoman; former Clark County, Nevada commissioner; former candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives
Claude M. Bolton Jr. (1945–2015), United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (2002–2008)
Mary Booze (1878–1955), RNC member from Mississippi
Deneen Borelli (born 1969), conservative author, radio and television personality and columnist
Harrison N. Bouey (1841–1909), elected probate judge, Edgefield County South Carolina in 1875, elected county sheriff in 1876, but was not allowed to take office
Jesse Freeman Boulden (1820–1899), elected to Mississippi House of Representatives 1869
Peter Boulware (born 1974), NFL linebacker and Republican candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, District 9.
John W. Boyd (1852–1932), Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Neal E. Boyd (1975–2018), opera singer and former candidate for the Missouri House of Representatives
Darryl Boyer, Florida politician and conservative activist
Jennette Bradley (born 1952), former treasurer of the State of Ohio
Julian Bradley (born 1981), Wisconsin state senator
Randy Brock (born 1943), state auditor of Vermont, state senator of Vermont
Stephen Broden (born 1952), conservative commentator, Life Always board member (an anti-abortion organization) and evangelical pastor, 2010 congressional candidate
Edward Brooke (1919–2015), U.S. senator from Massachusetts, first African-American elected by popular vote to the U.S. Senate
Ada E. Brown – United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Hallie Quinn Brown (1845–1949), educator, writer and activist
Janice Rogers Brown (born 1949), U.S. Court of Appeals judge, California Supreme Court judge, and civil servant
Jeremiah A. Brown (1841–1913), elected to Ohio House of Representatives 1885
Reginald J. Brown (1940–2005), Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) (2001–2005)
Solomon G. Brown (1829–1906), served in Washington, D.C. House of Delegates (1872–1874)
Tony Brown (1933–2026), journalist, academic, businessman and commentator of the television show Tony Brown's Journal
Yvonne Brown (1952–2012), first female black Republican mayor in Mississippi
Blanche Bruce (1841–1898), U.S. senator from Mississippi, first African-American to serve a full term in the U.S. Senate
C.L. Bryant (born 1956), Baptist minister, radio & television host
J. Mark Burns (born 1979), pastor and candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in South Carolina
Nannie Helen Burroughs (1878–1961), educator, activist and feminist
Walter Moses Burton (1840–1913), member of the Texas State Senate
William Owen Bush (1832–1907), member of the Washington State Legislature
Keith Butler (b. 1955/1956), Republican national committeeman from Michigan, former councilman for Detroit, minister, and former U.S. senatorial candidate
William F. Butler, politician, president of the Negro Republican Party, delegate to Republican National Convention in 1872

C

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]