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WILMINGTON, Del. — Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester has a saying she chants with her supporters during campaign events: “When Lisa goes to Washington, we all go to Washington.”
The refrain captures the small-town ethos of her home state of Delaware, where the idea of “everyone knows everyone” may well translate to being on a first-name basis with members of Congress. Her campaign message also highlights how she thinks about her work in public office and efforts to bring diverse voices to the table.
As Blunt Rochester walks through her old neighborhood in Northwest Wilmington on a picturesque October day, a mix of people — most of them Black — call out to her from their yards or pull their cars over to say hello. Until Blunt Rochester, many of the residents in this community had never seen someone who looks like them in the halls of Congress. Eight years ago, Blunt Rochester made history as the first Black person and first woman elected to represent Delaware in Congress. Now, she’s aiming for a seat in the U.S. Senate.