By CalNews360 Staff
August 20, 2026
The California Legislative Black Caucus has selected new leadership for the state’s upcoming 2027–28 legislative session, giving Assemblymember Corey A. Jackson the role of chair-elect and Senator Laura Richardson the position of vice chair-elect.
The leadership change comes as California lawmakers prepare for the next legislative session and comes at a time when issues including housing, education, healthcare, economic opportunity and public safety remain major concerns across the state.
Who will lead the caucus?
Assemblymember Corey Jackson, a Democrat representing Moreno Valley, was selected to serve as the caucus’s next chair.
Senator Laura Richardson, who represents the South Bay, was selected as vice chair. The caucus also selected Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins of San Diego as secretary-elect and Assemblymember Mia Bonta of Alameda as treasurer-elect.
The new leadership team will serve during the 2027–28 legislative session.
What is the California Legislative Black Caucus?
The California Legislative Black Caucus is made up of Black members of the California Legislature.
The organization works on issues affecting California’s Black communities while also participating in broader legislative discussions involving policies across the state.
Its members serve in both the California State Assembly and State Senate.
Why does the leadership change matter?
Leadership changes within legislative caucuses can influence which issues receive attention and how lawmakers coordinate their priorities.
The caucus has historically focused on issues including economic opportunity, education, healthcare, housing, criminal justice and representation.
With California continuing to face challenges involving the cost of living and housing affordability, the new leadership will take over as lawmakers prepare to develop priorities for the next two-year legislative session.
For residents, the significance will ultimately depend less on the leadership titles themselves and more on the policies and legislation the caucus chooses to support.
What happens next?
The new leadership will formally take on its responsibilities with the 2027–28 legislative session.
In the meantime, lawmakers will continue working through the current legislative session and preparing for upcoming policy debates.
The caucus has described the leadership transition as an opportunity to continue its work on behalf of California communities.
The bottom line
Assemblymember Corey Jackson will lead the California Legislative Black Caucus during the upcoming 2027–28 session, with Senator Laura Richardson serving as vice chair.
The leadership change is worth watching because the caucus represents a significant group of lawmakers in California’s Legislature, and its priorities can contribute to broader debates over policies affecting millions of residents.
For Californians, the more important question will be what priorities and legislation the new leadership brings forward once the next legislative session begins.
Source: California Legislative Black Caucus.
Image note: The image used with this article is AI-generated for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an actual event, meeting, or photograph of the individuals mentioned.