“I’m very excited to begin this new chapter of Chair of the IBLC,” Harris said in a press release. “Over the next two years, we’ll continue the work we’ve been doing for the past 44 years as a caucus to advance the needs of and improve the quality of life for African Americans, as well as all Hoosiers, throughout the state.”

This set off a miniature domino effect in open seats as Harris was previously vice chair. Taking over for Harris is Rep. Carloyn Jackson, D-Hammond. Andrea Hunley, a freshman senator, replaced Jackson as chaplain.

Rep. Renee Pack, D-Indianapolis, and Rep. John Bartlett, D-Indianapolis, will continue to serve the IBLC as treasurer and parliamentarian, respectively.

This leaves Rep. Robin Shackleford, D-Indianapolis, whom Harris replaced as chair, out of the leadership. Shackleford announced in November she will be running as a 2023 Indianapolis mayoral candidate.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what the IBLC accomplishes in the 2023 Legislative Session of the Indiana General Assembly as we focus our efforts on decreasing the educational achievement gap,” Shackleford said in a statement.

She also touted the accomplishments of the past two years—specifically a bill that Shackleford said “defines the use of chokeholds during arrests as lethal force and penalizes officers for intentionally turning off body and vehicle cameras.”

The bill, which became law on April 1, 2021, furthermore created a process to “decertify an officer who has committed misconduct, requires a law enforcement agency to request a potential hire’s employment record, and requires officers to undergo de-escalation training,” according to Shackleford.

Shackleford was reelected as an at-large member of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators earlier this month. Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis, was also reelected to a position—treasurer of NBCSL—while Harris was named chair of Region VIII—which covers Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota.

In total, Hunley’s election brings the IBLC’s current all-Democratic membership to 15 representatives and senators.