Full Breakdown
Senator Mike Lee’s Diversity Post Backfires as GOP’s Black House Members Depart
5/21/2026, 1:12:52 AM
The Collage and Its Claim
Utah Senator Mike Lee posted a four-image collage on his personal X account featuring the only Black Republicans serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. He captioned the image, “This is NOT the party of Jim Crow,” intending to counter accusations that the Republican Party lacks racial diversity.
Background: GOP’s Recent Diversity Push
The four members—Wesley Hunt (TX), John James (MI), Byron Donalds (FL) and Burgess Owens (UT)—were recruited during former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s effort to broaden the party’s racial profile after the Democrats’ 2018 House gains. McCarthy later described the GOP as resembling “the most restrictive country club in America.”
The Departing Black Republicans
All four representatives are leaving Congress in January 2027.
- Wesley Hunt sought a Senate seat in the 2024 Republican primary and was defeated.
- John James and Byron Donalds are running for governor in Michigan and Florida, respectively.
- Burgess Owens is retiring after Utah’s redistricting turned his district nominally Democratic.
Data Snapshot: Black Representation in Congress
- Four Black men (no Black women) currently serve among 435 House members—approximately 0.9 % of the chamber.
- After the departures, Sen. Tim Scott (SC) will be the sole Black Republican on Capitol Hill.
Official Statements & Party Responses
Lee’s post framed the GOP as free from the legacy of Jim Crow laws. Party leaders have not issued a coordinated response, but McCarthy’s earlier remarks acknowledge the party’s historically exclusive image. The Republican leadership has not announced any new Black candidates for the upcoming midterms.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics argue the collage masks a deeper lack of Black political power within the GOP.
- “It’s going to be really hard for even the most conservative Black Republican to look at this Republican Party and defend it,” said Chris Taylor, senior adviser to the Congressional Black Caucus PAC.
- “The message from today’s Republican Party is clear: Black faces are welcome as spokespeople, but Black political power itself is treated like a threat,” added Markus Batchelor, national political director at People For the American Way.
- An X user responded, “These are the only 4 black ppl in the Republican caucus and they’re all leaving office next year. Yet here you are flexing like your entire political ideology isn’t undergirded by racism, lol.”
Why It Matters
The exodus highlights the gap between the party’s symbolic use of Black representatives and its structural support for Black candidates. With no Black House members expected after January 2027, the GOP’s claim of racial inclusivity faces heightened scrutiny, potentially affecting outreach to Black voters and the party’s broader electoral strategy.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree on the identities and departure plans of the four representatives. However, none provide data on prospective Black Republican candidates for the 2024 elections, leaving a gap in understanding whether the party may field new Black contenders.
What’s Next
The 2024 midterm elections will determine whether any Black Republicans replace the departing members. Absent new candidates, the Republican Party could face its first congressional session without a Black House member, intensifying debates over its diversity commitments.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is NOT the party of Jim Crow.” — Mike Lee, U.S. Senator
- “When I look at my party, we look like the most restrictive country club in America,” — Kevin McCarthy, former House Speaker (2023 speech)
- “It's going to be really hard for even the most conservative Black Republican to look at this Republican Party and defend it,” — Chris Taylor, senior adviser, Congressional Black Caucus PAC
- “The message from today's Republican Party is clear: Black faces are welcome as spokespeople, but Black political power itself is treated like a threat,” — Markus Batchelor, national political director, People For the American Way
- “These are the only 4 black ppl in the Republican caucus and they’re all leaving office next year. Yet here you are flexing like your entire political ideology isn’t undergirded by racism, lol,” — X user (anonymous)
