The Congressional Black Caucus PAC is the political campaign arm of the left-of-center Congressional Black Caucus, comprised of African American Democratic members of Congress. The group has endorsed the campaigns of Democratic candidates running for office in the U.S House of Representatives and the U.S Senate. ¹

Founding and History

The Congressional Black Caucus PAC was registered in 1981 as the political campaign arm of the Congressional Black Caucus. It has worked to increase the number of African American members of Congress legislators in the U.S. Congress and to support non-Black candidates who align with the group’s legislative priorities. ¹

As of 2025, there are 60 members of the caucus, reportedly the highest membership in the group’s history since its formation. ¹

The group came faced criticism during the 2018 midterm elections when it supported then-U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA) over Ayana Pressley (D-MA) during the Democratic primary. Pressley would end up winning the primary vote. ² During the 2020 elections, the PAC backed then-incumbent U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) over primary challenger Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), the latter of whom would go on to win the Democratic primary and later the general election in November that year. ³

The group has been critical of the second Trump administration since its start in January 2025 including the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). ⁴

Finances

According to Federal Election Commission (FEC), during the 2024 election cycle the Congressional Black Caucus PAC spent $199,250 in campaign contributions, with the entire sum going to 25 Democrat House candidates, over 75 percent of whom were incumbents. ⁵

Aside from contributions, the group spent $12,514,459.48 in total during the 2023-2024 election cycle. ⁶

Leadership

Nicole Varner is the executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC. She was previously the chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX). ⁷

1. “About.” Congressional Black Caucus PAC. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.cbcpac.org/about-us.
2. Dezenski, Lauren. “CBC Endorses Capuano in Massachusetts Democratic Primary.” POLITICO, May 18, 2018. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/18/michael-capuano-endorsed-cbc-597659.
3. POLITICO. “Black Caucus Faces Upheaval as Progressive Pressure Rises,” September 9, 2020. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/09/congressional-black-caucus-upheaval-410114.
4. Brown, Stacey. “‘We’re Not Running from Our Own House’: CBC Declares War on Trump, Musk, and Project 2025.” Strickland.house.gov, March 4, 2025. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://strickland.house.gov/2025/03/04/were-not-running-from-our-own-house-cbc-declares-war-on-trump-musk-and-project-2025/.
5. “Congressional Black Caucus Pac – Committee Overview.” FEC.gov. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00147512/.
6. “Congressional Black Caucus Pac – Committee Overview.” FEC.gov, Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00147512/?tab=spending&cycle=2024.
7. “Executive Director.” Congressional Black Caucus PAC. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.cbcpac.org/executive-director.