The 118th Congress is the most racially and ethnically diverse to date. The proportion of minority congresspeople elected more closely matches the proportion of minority populations in the US than ever before.
The Racial and Ethnic Makeup of the 118th Congress
According to a report from the Pew Research Center, 133 senators and representatives today identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian American, American Indian, or Alaska Native. In the 108th Congress of 2003-05, there were 67 minority members. In the House of Representatives, 27 freshman members are racial or ethnic minorities.
In the Senate, 12 members belong to a racial or ethnic minority group, up from 11 in the 117th Congress. Six are Hispanic, two are Asian, three are Black, and one is American Indian.
More Representation in the House of Representatives
Non-Hispanic white members of Congress are still over-represented when compared to the US population (75% of the Congress is non-Hispanic white compared to 59% of the US population). There’s also a disparity between elected Asian American congresspeople and the broader US population: 4% of the House are Asian Americans compared to 6% of the national population. The Hispanic share of the House and the US population also doesn’t match up: 11% of the House versus 19% of the general population.
However, representation of some racial and ethnic groups in the House is closer to that of the US population: 13% of House members are Black, which is almost equal to the total share of Black Americans. The House is also represented by 1% of American Indians and Alaska Natives, the same as the US population.
There’s Still More Progress to Be Made
The 118th Congress is the seventh in a row to break the record for the most racially and ethnically diverse Congress to date. This upward trend is promising, but the representation of minority groups in the House and Senate still lags a bit behind the overall US population. We’ll see how the trend continues in the years to come.
If you need more insights on the political representation of minorities in the US, our team at Ebony Marketing Systems is ready to assist. We’re specialists in conducting multicultural research that reaches people in a new way. For more information, call us at (718) 742-0006 or send us a message.
