List of African-American U.S. State Firsts

21st Century

2002

First African-American lieutenant governor of Maryland and first elected to statewide office in Maryland: Michael Steele (See also: 2009)

2004

First African-American Oklahoma Supreme Court justice: Tom Colbert

First African-American Wisconsin Supreme Court justice: Louis B. Butler

2006

First African American elected governor of Massachusetts: Deval Patrick

First African-American lieutenant governor of New York: David Paterson

2008

First African-American woman elected Speaker of the California State Assembly: Karen Bass

First African-American governor of New York State: David Paterson (elected as lieutenant governor, succeeded on resignation of previous governor)

2009

First bicameral state legislature to have both chambers headed simultaneously by African Americans: Peter Groff and Terrance Carroll of Colorado.

2010

First African-American attorney general of California: Kamala Harris

First African-American Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court: Roderick L. Ireland

2013

First African-American senator from South Carolina: Tim Scott

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List of African-American U.S. State Firsts - 21st Century

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