U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FIRST BLACKS WERE ALL REPUBLICANS Republicans - the racists? In 1868, Republicans elected the first black person to represent them in Congress. There were no black Democrats in Congress until 1935. For almost seven decades Republicans were the ONLY ONES electing blacks to Congress. Here are the historical facts: John Willis Menard (1838-1893); Republican - Louisiana; Term: 1868 Joseph Rainey (1832-1887); Republican - South Carolina; Term:1870-1879 Jefferson F. Long (1836-1901); Republican – Georgia; Term: 1870-1871 Robert C. De Large (1842-1874); Republican - South Carolina; Term: 1871-1873 Robert B. Elliott (1842-1884); Republican - South Carolina;...