South Carolina Republican Tim Scott will become just the seventh African American in American history to serve in the U.S. Senate when he is sworn in to replace Jim DeMint.
He will be the fourth Republican African American senator and the third from the Deep South. Three African American Democrats — all from Illinois — have served.
Each of the African American senators has represented a historic first.
Here is the list and the historical significance of each choice:
1. Hiram Rhodes Revels
Mississippi
Republican
1870-1871
First African American chosen for the Senate (by the Mississippi state senate).
2. Blanche Kelso Bruce
Mississippi
Republican
1875-1881
Only former slave to serve in the U.S. Senate.
First African American chosen for a full six-year Senate term.
Youngest African American to serve in Senate (34).
3. Edward William Brooke III
Massachusetts
Republican
1967-1979
First African American senator from a northern state.
First popularly elected African American senator.
Only African American senator to win re-election.
4. Carol Moseley Braun
Illinois
Democrat
1993-1999
First African American woman elected to the Senate.
First African American Democrat to serve in the Senate.
5. Barack Hussein Obama
Illinois
Democrat
2005-2008
First African American Democratic man elected to the Senate.
Won first general election contest featuring two African American major party candidates.
First African American senator to resign to become president.
6. Roland Wallace Burris
Illinois
Democrat
2008-2010
First African American to succeed another African American senator.
First African American appointed to the Senate.
Oldest African American senator (73).
7. Timothy Eugene Scott
South Carolina
Republican
2013-
First African American senator from the former Confederacy since the end of Reconstruction.
First African American Republican appointed to the Senate.