Carol Moseley Braun elected first Black woman in the U.S. Senate, Nov. 3, 1992

On this day in 1992, Democrat Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois became the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Senate. BlackFacts dates the milestone to Nov. 3, 1992, and Britannica's "on this day" entry for November 3 lists it as well.

NPR reports that she was also the first woman from Illinois elected to the Senate. Before that race, she became Cook County recorder of deeds in 1988. NPR says she was the first Black person elected to an executive position in the county. Britannica says she held that post from 1988 to 1992.

Her Senate campaign included a Democratic primary contest against Sen. Alan Dixon. Britannica says she ran against him because she was displeased with his support of Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, and that she won an upset victory despite being poorly financed.

The election date is separate from her time in office. The Library of Congress record, quoting the congressional biography, says she was elected as a Democrat in 1992 and served from Jan. 3, 1993, to Jan. 3, 1999. Britannica's biography also describes her as a Democratic senator from Illinois from 1993 to 1999.

What we don't know yet

• The sources we reviewed do not give vote totals for the 1992 general election, so none are included here. Official results come from election offices and the Associated Press.
• Britannica's biography text gives her Senate years as 1993 to 1999, while its infobox lists 1992 to 1998. This piece uses the 1993 to 1999 dates, which match the Library of Congress record.
• BlackFacts spells her surname "Mosely." Other sources spell it "Moseley."