• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya – Digital Cover
    • Cardi B and Offset Cover
    • Method Man – Digital Cover
    • Zazie Beetz – Digital Cover
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Fashion House 2021
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • MAYBELLINE: FIT ME MATTE + PORELESS
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Prudential – Dream & Plan with Confidence
    • Black History Month
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Holiday Gift Guide
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Festival
  • Events
    • Road to Festival
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • Entrepreneur Summit 2021
    • Wellness House
    • VAX & VIBES Louisiana
    • Girls United Summit 2021
    • She Got Now
    • Fashion House 2021
    • GU Back To School
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • Power Tools
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya – Digital Cover
    • Cardi B and Offset – Print Cover
    • Method Man – Digital Cover
    • Zazie Beetz – Digital Cover
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Fashion House 2021
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • MAYBELLINE: FIT ME MATTE + PORELESS
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Prudential – Dream & Plan with Confidence
    • Black History Month
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Holiday Gift Guide
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Festival
    • Sponsors
    • Fest Videos
  • Events
    • Road to Festival
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • Entrepreneur Summit 2021
    • Wellness House
    • VAX & VIBES Louisiana
    • Girls United Summit 2021
    • She Got Now
    • Fashion House 2021
    • GU Back To School
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • Power Tools
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Love & Sex

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch

We're still riding high off the energy from Election Day, and when it comes to politics, these handsome fellas are passionate about change. Meet the roster of pundits and politicians who really make us swoon.

By Charli Penn · Updated October 28, 2020
01
T.J. Holmes

Political journalist and TV personality TJ Holmes gained popularity as the weekend news anchor on CNN. He called the network home for five years, all of which he delivered hard news with that dazzling smile his fans have grown to know and love.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
02
T.J. Holmes

Holmes is bringing the heat to BET on weekday nights, with his hot new nightly news show Don’t Sleep. The show airs Mon-Thursday at 11 p.m.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
03
Mayor Cory Booker

Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker is known to make headlines for his philanthropic work, grassroots policies and guy-next-door style. He’s loved by his community and frequently praised for going above and beyond for his constituents. (He once went on a 10-day hunger strike to shed light on the dangers of open-air drug dealing.)

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
04
Mayor Cory Booker

Booker is an eligible bachelor, ladies. He’s single and the object of many constituents’ affection. He’s even been called things like “the perfect catch” and “too good to be true” by bloggers. Have you dreamed of being his first lady?

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
05
Dr. Steve Perry

Educator and activist Dr. Steve Perry is well-known for his passionate approach to improving the quality of education for our youth — a cause he has openly committed his life’s work to. The nationally sought after speaker has appeared on hundreds of radio and television broadcasts to speak out about education inequality and cultural disparities among our schools. He also founded his own magnet school and is the author of the highly praised book Push Has Come to Shove.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
06
Dr. Steve Perry

Perry is an ESSENCE columnist and a CNN contributor. To see him in action, tune in to his reality show on TVONE Save My Son.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
07
Governor Deval Patrick

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has been in office since 2007, when he became the first Black governor of the state after being considered a dark-horse candidate. (He took over after Mitt Romney left the post.)

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Devak Patrick
08
Governor Deval Patrick

Both dapper and distinguished, Patrick leads the state of Massachusetts with class and integrity. Prior to becoming the governor, he worked under President Bill Clinton as the Assistant United States Attorney General.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
09
Kevin Powell

Political activist, author and public speaker Kevin Powell is well known for his unique voice and prolific prose. He has penned 11 books, his most recent being a collection of essays called Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, and The Ghost of Dr. King: Blogs and Essays, and written for numerous mainstream publications, including ESSENCE, Rolling Stone, Newsweek, and The Washington Post.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
10
Kevin Powell

Powell was a member of the first season of MTV’s The Real World. Now, he’s a political activist, author, and media personality using his platform to speak out about social and political justice. 

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
KevinPowell.net
11
Dr. Marc Lamont Hill

Handsome academic Marc Lamont Hill means business. He has lent his skills as an outspoken political commentator for FOX News Channel, CNN and MSNBC.  The social justice activist and community organizer is a founding board member of a non-profit organization geared toward educating underprivileged youth about their legal rights.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Marc Lamont Hill
12
Dr. Marc Lamont Hill

Hill isn’t just opinionated about the state of the world, he’s well educated on it too. He holds a doctoral degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his research centers around the overlap of education, culture and politics. Presently, Hill is a faculty member at Columbia University and the author of Beats, Rhymes and Classroom Life: Hip-Hop Pedagogy and the Politics of Identity.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Marc Lamont Hill
13
Van Jones

Van Jones wears many hats. The former Obama campaign adviser is an environmental and civil rights activist and political correspondent on CNN with one seriously lovely smile.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
14
Van Jones

Tennessee native Jones, an attorney, graduated from Yale Law School and is passionate about green jobs and making America a healthier, safer place to live. We love a man who isn’t afraid to clean up his act — and make us clean up ours.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
vanjones.net
15
Mayor Svante Myrick

At 24, Svante Myrick has already left his mark in the political history books – in January when he was sworn into office as the mayor of Ithaca, New York, he became the state’s youngest every mayor. #winning

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
SvanteMyrick.com
16
Mayor Svante Myrick

His grandparents mostly raised Myrick, who is bi-racial. Does this story sound familiar? It’s clear he’s on the path to greatness.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Svante Myrick
17
Jeff Johnson

Gorgeous TV host and personality Jeff Johnson made a name for himself covering hip-hop culture on BET (Rap City anyone?), then went on to become a prominent social and political commentator.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Jeff Johnson
18
Jeff Johnson

If you’re a fan of Johnson’s (like we are!) be sure to look for him on MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, and XM radio, for all of which he contributes regular polical, socio-economic and pop culture commentary.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Jeff Johnson
19
Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown

Anthony G. Brown is currently in his second term as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. Presently, he leads the state’s work to improve health care throughout Maryland, having already helped expand health coverage to over 341,000 Marylanders.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Anthony Brown
20
Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown

Brown’s a hero hands down! He served our country in the U.S. Army for 30 years and is currently a colonel in the United States Army Reserve. (He’s the nation’s highest-ranking elected official to have served a tour of duty in Iraq.)  Brown says the two issues closest to his heart are protecting victims of domestic violence and encouraging capable families to adopt.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
21
Boro. President Ruben Diaz, Jr.

Bronx, New York borough president Ruben Diaz, Jr. has a long history of service. Before taking his latest post in 2009, he served in the New York State Assembly for 12 years, representing the 85th Assembly District. During his time with the State Legislature he worked diligently to support job creation and champion working families.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
22
Boro. President Ruben Diaz, Jr.

This year, Diaz, Jr. helped ensure that the city council passed new laws requiring developers that receive heavy taxpayer funding to pay employees better wages. Given today’s economic climate, it’s great to see politicians working tirelessly to put more money into the pockets of hard-working Americans who deserve it most. Oh, and did we mention the lifelong Bronx resident is quite handsome? It’s safe to say he has zero porblems getting his constituents’ attention.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
23
Hakeem Jeffries

New York State assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries represents Brooklyn and is a huge advocate for affordable housing for working families. He was sworn into office in 2007 and served two terms at his post. He’s well known for his Brooklyn-pride, and thanks to voters last week, he’s now headed to Congress this January. He won a seat representing the borough’s 8th congressional district.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
24
Hakeem Jeffries

Jeffries’ Brooklyn constituents applaud him for his prominent work in the community and approachable style, and he’s widely considered to be a rising political star.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
25
Mayor Kevin Johnson

Sacramento, California mayor Kevin Johnson is currently serving his second four-year term after being voted into office in 2008. He made history, becoming both the first native resident and Black man to earn the title.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
26
Mayor Kevin Johnson

Does Johnson look familiar? The brother has game – literally! Prior to launching his political career, and becoming the capital city’s mayor, Johnson played professional basketball with the NBA. He played point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns during his 12-year career.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
27
Tavis Smiley

Tavis Smiley needs no introduction. The popular TV host, political commentator and author is no stranger to the news. The longtime host of late-night television talk show Tavis Smiley on PBS and The Tavis Smiley Show on public radio recently teamed up with Dr. Cornel West for their radio news commentary show Smiley & West.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Tavis Smiley
28
Tavis Smiley

Did you know throughout his career, the notable on-air personality has penned 16 books? His memoir, What I Know for Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America, became a New York Times bestseller.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
29
Harold E. Ford, Jr.

In 2006, Ford, Jr. did not run for re-election because of plans to run for a seat on the Senate. He lost his bid for Senate by a narrow margin, and soon after became the chairman of the now defunct Democratic Leadership Council. He also frequently appeared as a political correspondent for FOX News Channel and NBC. Today, Ford, Jr. is a Professor of Public Policy at the New York University Graduate School of Public Service.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
30
Harold E. Ford, Jr.

Conservative democrat Harold Ford, Jr. is the son of former Congressman Harold Ford, Sr. and when dear old dad, who was the first African-American to represent Tennessee in the U.S. Congress, left his seat with the United States House of Representatives in 1997, his son ran and won the election. Ford, Jr. served as the representative for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District for 10 years.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
31
Touré

After being fired from his internship with Rolling Stone, music and culture journalist Touré wrote his way right into a new position as a freelancer for the magazine and quickly made a name for himself writing music reviews and cover stories.  (Don’t you just love his fro?)

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
32
Touré

You’ve most likely seen Touré’s political commentary and other works in The New Yorker or Vibe. He’s the author of numerous books, and he’s no stranger to controversy. Most recently, he made headlines after a heated interview with Piers Morgan over his coverage of the Trayvon Martin case and for accusing Governor Mitt Romney of participating in the “niggerization” of President Obama. Touré sure knows how to keep things hot on screen.

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images
33
Who Do You Love?

Do you have a crush on a local politician or pundit in your area that’s the perfect combination of beauty and brains? Add him to our list below!

Eye Candy: Pundits and Politicians to Watch
Getty Images

Read More

Gabrielle Union And Dwyane Wade Expand Their PROUDLY Baby Line With ‘Bum Care’ Collection
Lifestyle
Gabrielle Union And Dwyane Wade Expand Their PROUDLY Baby Li...
LeBron James Just Became The Highest Paid Player In NBA History
Money & Career
LeBron James Just Became The Highest Paid Player In NBA History
Happy Birthday To Our ‘Golden Lady’ Halle Berry!
Videos
Happy Birthday To Our ‘Golden Lady’ Halle Berry!
Happy Birthday To Our Leading Black Woman, Viola Davis!
Videos
Happy Birthday To Our Leading Black Woman, Viola Davis!
12 No-Fuss Face Cleansing Balms That Double As Makeup Removers
Shop
12 No-Fuss Face Cleansing Balms That Double As Makeup Removers
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2022 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now