Destiny Drake West Is In Position To Be First Black Woman To Represent Maryland In Congress

Black history in Congress is in the making.

Destiny Drake West might make history.

West, a congressional candidate, recently announced she is pregnant with her fourth child. She also declared she will continue to strive to represent the citizens of Maryland’s 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

According to a press release emailed to BLACK ENTERPRISE, if West is elected for this position she will be the first Black woman in this role and the first Black representative to serve Maryland’s 6^th Congressional district. This would also make her the first woman to serve in Congress from the state of Maryland since 2016.

The politician stepped into the realm of public service after being motivated by her personal experience. Her background of being born into an impoverished family has led to her, she said, understanding of the various challenges faced by marginalized members of the community such as women and working families. According to West, this has provided her with a unique perspective and understanding of gender pay disparities, affordable childcare, paid maternity and paternity leave, and reproductive rights.

The soon-to-be mom of four uses her story of success as motivation when helping families in her district obtain access to opportunities that will set them up for economic growth and security.

“After years of trying to conceive and two failed pregnancies, my husband and I are thrilled to be expecting a child. However, I’m equally thrilled to continue my campaign for the people of Maryland’s 6th District. I entered this race because I believe, more than anything else, our district needs a working mother in Congress who understands that poverty is not a Democrat or Republican issue. Poverty is a failure of leadership–an inability to rise above petty political disagreements and recognize that our community is only as strong as our most vulnerable people,” West said.

“Right now, one-third of our families are struggling to make ends meet and the only thing standing in the way of finding common-sense solutions to these economic challenges is a lack of political will in Washington. This pregnancy will not deter me from my mission. If anything, it strengthens my resolve to run this race to the end,” she continued.

West has been praised for her excellence in politics by Dr. Don Trahan, Jr., a certified diversity executive.

“Destiny has the ability to navigate the complex landscape of running for Congress as a woman of color, where gender biases and inequalities still persist,” Trahan said.

Donna Edwards was the first African American woman in Congress from the state of Maryland, BE covered in 2008. She was elected to represent Maryland’s 4th Congressional District.

West is four months pregnant and will be running the race for the duration of her pregnancy, with a due date in April 2024.