But major threats have shaken the nearly 60-year-old group in recent months. A recent Supreme Court decision threatens to decimate its membership and an influx of hard-left Democrats could undermine its brand of pragmatic, civil-rights-focused liberalism.<\/p>\n

It will likely be Rep. Troy Carter\u2019s job to plot a path forward. The three-term Louisiana Democrat is positioned to take over as chair from Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) next year, and in an extensive interview said he was determined to defend the CBC\u2019s privileged place in House Democratic politics.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf those who are out there banking on us being quieted, going away, not fighting for the rights of individuals, and providing resources to those that have been historically left behind, they are sadly mistaken,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Carter, 62, is now serving as caucus vice chair and a self-proclaimed \u201cclose ally\u201d of Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader and likely speaker if Democrats can win a majority in November. He would not commit to seeking the chair but spoke about his \u201cpassion for the caucus,\u201d and five other CBC members, including Clarke, said in recent interviews that he is a strong \u2014 and perhaps the only \u2014 contender.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t know if there’s anyone who would even think about running against him,\u201d Rep. Cleo Fields (D-La.) said. \u201cHe’s set in a perfect position to be the chairman of our caucus, and he has my unyielding support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fields, however, probably won\u2019t be eligible to vote for Carter \u2014 underscoring the larger challenges the caucus faces.<\/p>\n

The Supreme Court\u2019s April ruling in Louisiana v. Callais<\/i> allowed the Republican-controlled state legislature to redraw congressional lines \u2014 effectively drawing out Fields and leaving Carter as the delegation\u2019s sole Democrat. The ruling\u2019s effects went far beyond the Louisiana state lines, however, allowing GOP-dominated states to eliminate majority-minority districts and threaten the reelections of as many as 19 CBC members<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Carter cast the moment as an opportunity for evolution rather than reinvention for the CBC as he fielded questions about how aggressively Democrats should respond to Republican gerrymandering, the caucus\u2019s longstanding commitment to preserving seniority rights and how it will respond to a new crop of ultraprogressives intent on tugging the party leftward.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s always been revered as the conscience of the Congress, and we will still be the conscience of the Congress if we lose one, two, three or 10 members,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

But some CBC consensus positions that have served to amplify its influence inside the larger Democratic Caucus are already coming into conflict with some members\u2019 demands that their party get more serious about fighting President Donald Trump and Republicans.<\/p>\n

For instance, some Democrats believe the most effective way to combat the GOP redistricting spree is to carve up majority-minority districts in blue states as well as red ones. That could create more Democratic seats at the price of diluting Black power<\/a> in Congress.<\/p>\n

Though some prominent CBC members, such as New York Rep. Greg Meeks<\/a>, are open to the idea, Carter said he was not inclined to join them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want a party that is reflective of all the voices of all the people,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd if we just start painting a picture, all we want is Democrats, then we lose the value and the flavor and the diversity of what our party represents, and that is a seat at the table for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carter struck a softer note on seniority rights, which has long been seen as the foundation of minority power in the House and a red-line issue for the CBC. The system, he acknowledged, helps minority members \u201cascend to roles of leadership in a system that even within the party hasn’t always been fair.\u201d<\/p>\n

But, he added, “I have never believed that a person that comes in with superior expertise in a subject matter, should be told to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

That attitude has served Carter himself well, putting him in position to assume the CBC chair in only his fourth congressional term after a long career in New Orleans politics. His words, however, are a far cry from suggesting that longtime committee leaders such as Meeks on Foreign Relations, Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson on Homeland Security or California Rep. Maxine Waters on Financial Services ought to step aside.<\/p>\n

The real threat could come from a slew of young progressives who have signaled they aren\u2019t interested in waiting their turn next term or otherwise playing nice with the traditional Democratic powers-that-be. Some of those future lawmakers, such as Darializa Avila Chevalier of New York and Chris Rabb of Philadelphia, could be joining the CBC.<\/p>\n

Carter brushed off the potential for conflict. He said that while the CBC \u201cstill plays a role\u201d in moderating House Democrats, he would not endorse the suggestion from centrist lawmakers such as Reps. Josh Gottheimer<\/a> (D-N.J) and Tom Suozzi<\/a> (D-N.Y.) that self-avowed democratic socialists like Avila Chevalier and Rabb don\u2019t belong in the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re not going to let people pit us against each other,\u201d Carter said. \u201cA Democrat’s a Democrat’s a Democrat. We have different ideas, we have different philosophies, we have different views, different approaches on how to get there, but our missions aren’t different.\u201d<\/p>\n