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Four Black GOP lawmakers exit, Scott left alone

5/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Sen. Mike Lee posted a collage of Rep. Wesley Hunt, Rep. John James, Rep. Byron Donalds and Rep. Burgess Owens, saying GOP isn’t “the party of Jim Crow.”
All four will leave Congress after the 2026 elections with no re-election bids, leaving Sen. Tim Scott as only Black Republican.
Critics say Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s diversity drive faded after President Donald Trump’s attacks on diversity left the party without a Black pipeline.

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Story summary

Sen. Mike Lee posted a collage of Rep. Wesley Hunt, Rep. John James, Rep. Byron Donalds and Rep. Burgess Owens, saying GOP isn’t “the party of Jim Crow.”
All four will leave Congress after the 2026 elections with no re-election bids, leaving Sen. Tim Scott as only Black Republican.
Critics say Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s diversity drive faded after President Donald Trump’s attacks on diversity left the party without a Black pipeline.