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California Legislative Black Caucus Celebrates Historic Milestone With Record Number of Women Members

The CLBC was established in 1967 by Black members of the California Legislature to address the concerns of African Americans and other citizens of color. The new members of the CLBC say they are inspired, motivated, and ready to start working on behalf of their constituents.

Published

5 months ago

December 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Assemblymembers LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego), Sade Elhawary (D-Los Angeles), Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), and Senators Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) and Laura Richardson (D-Inglewood) join hands in unity at the Black Queens Reception on December 6 in Sacramento, showcasing their commitment to leadership and representation.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌, ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) made history on Dec. 2. For the first time, most of its members are women. Nine out of its 12 current members are Black women, the highest number in the organization’s 57-year history.

During the last legislative session, five out of 12 CLBC members were women.

For the 2025-26 Legislative session, three CLBC women members are serving in the State Senate and six in the State Assembly.

Sen. Laura Richardson (D-Inglewood) and Sen. Akilah Weber (D-LaMesa) were sworn in on the first official day of the 2025-26 Regular Session in the chambers of the State Senate by the Hon. Patricia Guerrero, Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.

“Yesterday, I was sworn in as Senator of the 39th Senate District! I am so honored to do this work and excited to get started, Weber posted on her Facebook page on Dec. 3. “I introduced my first bill on my first day, SB 32, to address maternity ward closures in the state.”

Before winning her Senate seat, Weber had served in the State Assembly for three years, representing the 79^th District in San Diego County.

She was also sworn in as Chair of the CLBC on Dec. 2.

Weber and Richardson are joining CLBC member Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Ladera Heights), previously the only Black woman serving in the State Senate. Smallwood-Cuevas was elected in 2022.

“This has been a long journey,” said Smallwood-Cuevas. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all of you coming together and standing up and supporting this effort to ensure that Black women have a voice here in Sacramento, representing the communities we all care about.”

New CLBC lawmakers in the Assembly — Assemblymembers Sade Elhawary (D-South Los Angeles), Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton) and LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego) — were also sworn in on Dec. 2 on the Assembly floor.

Elhawary, Ransom, and Sharp-Collins and are joining Richardson as the newest members of CLBC. However, Richardson previously served in the Assembly before being elected to Congress in 2007.

Returning CLBC members in the State Assembly are: immediate past CLBC Chair, Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), and Assemblymembers Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), Issac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights), Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) and Mike Gipson (D-Carson).

Outgoing CLBC members include Sen. Steve Bradford (D-Inglewood), who was termed out and is running for Lieutenant Governor. Assemblymembers Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), and Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) also left. McCarty did not seek reelection to the Assembly to run for mayor of Sacramento, a race he won. Holden and Jones-Sawyer were termed out.

The CLBC was established in 1967 by Black members of the California Legislature to address the concerns of African Americans and other citizens of color.

The new members of the CLBC say they are inspired, motivated, and ready to start working on behalf of their constituents.

Sharp Collins stated. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and our Assembly leadership to better the 79th District and the State as a whole.”

“There is so much work to be done,” she said.

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The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 28 – June 3, 2025

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Childhood Literacy Bill Supported by NAACP and CTA Moves Closer to Becoming California Law

“This legislation is essential, important progress, and it reflects agreement and robust consensus on ways to provide educators the evidence-based tools they need to support California’s diverse students,” Rivas said in an April 30 statement. “We must make sure every child, no matter their background, has the opportunity to become a confident and thriving reader.”

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May 19, 2025

Oakland Post

California Teachers Association Legislative Advocate Patricia Rucker, EdVoice CEO Marshall Tuck, Asm. Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) and Asm. Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) listen to public comments at an Assembly Education Committee hearing for AB 1454 on May 1. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌, ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

The Assembly Committee on Education passed previously stalled legislation after an agreement was struck to strengthen early childhood literacy efforts in the state by equipping educators with the necessary tools and training.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1454, authored by Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), and Assemblymember Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), unanimously passed out of committee with a 9-0 vote.

The evidence-based reading instruction bill, supported by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) California-Hawaii State Conference, now moves on to the Committee on Appropriations for review.

AB 1454 would require the California Department of Education to identify effective professional development programs for educators primarily focused on teaching reading in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade.

It also requires the State Board of Education to adopt updated English language arts and English language development instructional materials. Additionally, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing would be required to update school administrator standards to include training on how to support effective literacy instruction.

The legislation was authored and introduced by Rubio as AB 2222 last year. She said was designed to implement evidence-based methods, also known as “the science of reading,” a scientifically-based research approach that advises how pupils are taught to read.

The bill stalled in April 2024 when the California Teachers Association (CTA) and other education stakeholders opposed the bill, questioning a mandate that would have required all school districts to standardize instruction and required training.

Rubio reintroduced the bill as AB 1121, but it too failed to advance, prompting Rivas to create AB 1454. After multiple rounds of negotiations, an agreement was made that reading instruction training would be discretionary.

Patricia Rucker, a legislative advocate for the CTA and former State School Board of Education member, said the agreement reached required each party involved to make concessions about implementation.

“Reasonable people can disagree on reasonable things, but we also can show the world how you can disagree and come together,” Rucker said during the hearing held at the State Capitol Swing Space. “We’re committed to continuing the work on this bill to keep the bill moving forward.”

Rubio said she was close to surrendering the fight for the bill, stating that the process “by far, has been the hardest thing that I have ever done in nine years as a legislator.”

“Sometimes I was ready to walk away,” she said, “but for the coalition (of supporters), parents, family members, and of course, our Speaker, for finally sitting us down and saying, ‘Get it done. Get it done.’”

Marshall Tuck, the CEO of EdVoice, told California Black Media that one-third of states have integrated evidence-based reading instruction into their early literacy policies and have done so with measurable success.

“Reading is a civil rights issue, and it demands urgent action,” Tuck said. “There are a lot of challenges that go into reading, but this is a big step forward.”