(Washington, DC – Feb 17, 2026) We are saddened by the passing of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a champion in the fight for civil rights and economic justice. His leadership helped transform protest into policy and movements into political power.
Rev. Jackson’s historic presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 were watershed moments in American politics. Following the groundbreaking 1972 campaign of NWPC Co-Founder and Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, who shattered barriers as the first Black woman to seek a major party’s nomination for president, Jackson expanded the map of possibility even further.
Where Chisholm proved that those excluded from power could run, Jackson demonstrated that they could build broad national coalitions and win millions of votes. Together, their courage reshaped the Democratic Party and redefined who could aspire to the presidency. Their campaigns paved the way for the election of President Barack Obama decades later.
The National Women’s Political Caucus honors Rev. Jackson’s extraordinary legacy and the example he set. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones, and the countless communities he inspired. We hope to continue his work, building a democracy where leadership truly reflects the people it serves.
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The National Women’s Political Caucus, founded in 1971, is the oldest national, multi-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to identifying, recruiting, training, electing, and supporting pro-choice women candidates for elected and appointed office.
