The 117th Congress is the most ethnically and racially diverse in history, drawing from lawmakers who come from a wide range of backgrounds.
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The 117th Congress is the most ethnically and racially diverse in history, drawing from lawmakers who come from a wide range of backgrounds.
Nearly a quarter of the 535 members of the House and Senate are racial or ethnic minorities.
With each election in recent years, Congress continues to become more diverse. For the past decade, a record number of minorities has been elected in each succeeding election.
More than 120 lawmakers identify as Black, Hispanic, Native American or Asian/Pacific islander, according to an .
That鈥檚 nearly double the number of minority members who were in Congress 20 years ago.
Among the many current minority members:
Ohio Congresswoman Joyce Beatty
The Ohio lawmaker is the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. She鈥檚 been active over the years in pressing companies to make sure they are hiring from a diverse pool of people. 鈥淒iversity inclusion is very important to me, and it鈥檚 personal for me, 鈥� she says. She鈥檚 also sought police reform and recently spoke out after the high-profile trial of a former police officer in Minneapolis. 鈥淛ustice matters, transparency matters,鈥� she says. Beatty has served in Congress since 2013.
Photo credit:聽https://beatty.house.gov/
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California Congresswoman Judy Chu
Chu is the first Chinese-American to be elected to Congress. 聽She鈥檚 drawn on her personal experiences to become a prominent voice in drawing attention to prejudice against Asian-Americans. 鈥淥ur nation鈥檚 leaders must send a clear message that we reject bigotry and hate,鈥� she says. Chu says society needs to respect diversity and also must work to come together. Chu has served in Congress since 2009 and represents California鈥檚 27th District, which includes Pasadena, home of the Rose Bowl.
Photo credit: https://chu.house.gov/
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Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth
Duckworth is the first Thai-American elected to Congress. She was a military helicopter pilot in Iraq, where she lost her legs during combat. She鈥檚 a fierce defender of Asian-Americans and notes that she鈥檚 dealt with lots of indignities herself. 鈥淲hile wearing the uniform of this nation with her flag on my shoulder, (I鈥檝e) been asked, 鈥榳here are you from, really?鈥欌�� Duckworth was among the key lawmakers who pressed for anti-hate crime legislation involving Asian-Americans, which was signed into law by President Biden after being passed by Congress.
Photo credit:聽https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/
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Kansas Congresswoman Sharice Davids
The Kansas lawmaker is one of the first two Native Americans to be elected to Congress. She was raised by a single mother and worked her way through college. Davids says she never wants to forget her roots. 鈥淚 always have felt as though one of my biggest responsibilities as a representative for the community that I represent is to listen,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat means listening to people who are the most affected by injustices.鈥� 聽Davids was elected to Congress in 2018.
Photo credit: https://davids.house.gov/
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New York Congressman Antonio Delgado
The New York lawmaker says this is a unique time. 鈥淲e have been through quite a bit of late, on the issue of race,鈥� he says. Delgado at one point worked in the music industry, to empower young people through hip-hop. He says it鈥檚 important to address critical issues related to blacks and criminal justice. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a collective energy on the question of race and it鈥檚 important in this moment, right now, to tap into that energy.鈥� Delgado held 50 town halls during his first term.
Photo credit: https://delgado.house.gov/
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Florida Congressman Byron Donalds
Donalds is a relatively new member of Congress from Florida. But his roots are in the northeast, where he was raised by a hard-working, single mother. 鈥淚 grew up in the inner-city of Brooklyn, New York and my mother wanted the same thing that so many parents want for their children 鈥� just an opportunity to succeed from education,鈥� he says. Donalds worked in private business before coming to Washington and has been active on a wide range of education issues, including school choice.
Photo credit: https://donalds.house.gov/
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Ohio Congressman Anthony Gonzalez
The Ohio lawmaker has a unique background, having played football in the NFL. His father left Fidel Castro鈥檚 Cuba to come to the U.S. His upbringing taught him to value hard work and he doesn鈥檛 like the political games often played in Washington. 鈥淢y constituents value a Congress that puts the people over the politics.鈥� Gonzalez serves on the Financial Services Committee, and is vice chair of the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion
Photo credit: congress.gov
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New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries
Jeffries is the chair of the House Democratic Caucus and has been vocal on a wide range of issues that touch on race and diversity. He鈥檚 a strong supporter of social justice and notes his family has felt the impact of sensitive issues involving police and Black Americans. 鈥淚 had to have 鈥榯he talk,鈥� with my two sons,鈥� he notes, referring to discussions Black parents often have with their children about how to avoid any confrontations or problems during traffic stops. Jeffries serves on the Judiciary Committee.
Photo credit: https://jeffries.house.gov/
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Michigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence
First elected to Michigan鈥檚 14th District in 2004, Lawrence grew up on the east side of Detroit, which is part of the area she represents. Lawrence is keenly aware of congressional history and says she鈥檚 proud to be part of the most diverse Congress to date. 鈥淥ur diversity is our strength and our unity is our power,鈥� she says. Lawrence is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and says it鈥檚 important for her and others to stand up against injustice, wherever it occurs.
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New York Congresswoman Grace Meng
Meng is the first and only Asian-American member of Congress from New York. She鈥檚 been speaking out against hate crimes against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, which have risen during the pandemic. 鈥淎pproximately 3,800 anti-Asian hate incidents have been reported since the start of the pandemic,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e cannot stay silent, nor be silenced anymore.鈥� Meng was one of the prominent voices for the anti-hate crime legislation that recently passed in Congress.
Photo credit: https://meng.house.gov/
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California Senator Alex Padilla
Padilla is California鈥檚 first Latino senator and the son of parents who came to the United States from Mexico. 鈥淢y family鈥檚 journey is central to my public service,鈥� he says. Padilla says their hard work ethic has stayed with him, as he tries to help improve the lives of his constituents. 鈥淥ur family has gone from being the immigrant cooks and house cleaners, to serving in the United States Senate. Padilla replaced former Sen. Kamala Harris, after she became vice president.
Photo credit:聽https://www.padilla.senate.gov/
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South Carolina Senator Tim Scott
Scott is the only Black Republican in the Senate and he鈥檚 had a prominent role in negotiations on police reform legislation. He says he knows what it鈥檚 like to be pulled over by police as a Black man, noting he was once followed by a police car for several blocks, with little indication as to why. 鈥淚 was looking for some rational reason for him to stop me.鈥� The GOP lawmaker has been in talks with Democrats, as they try to find common ground on police reform measures. Scott gave the GOP response to President Biden鈥檚 first joint address to Congress.
Photo credit: https://www.senate.gov/
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Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema
The Arizona lawmaker says there鈥檚 pressure in Washington 鈥渢o spend time on every scandal, every Tweet.鈥� The Senate鈥檚 only openly bisexual member has carved out a unique path, working on issues important to her, such as advocating for military veterans. Sinema says it鈥檚 important to get out of 聽鈥渃omfort zones to build coalitions and get things done.鈥� She has the distinction of being one of two active members of Congress to complete a triathlon competition.
Photo credit: https://www.sinema.senate.go
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California Congressman Mark Takano
Takano is the first openly gay Asian America congressman. His parents were sent to a Japanese internment camp in the U.S. during WWII. Given the rise in threats against Asian-Americans during the pandemic, he’s called on political leaders to set a good example, so people aren’t prompted to carry out hate crimes. 鈥淚f you have destabilizing leaders, they can also destabilize those are vulnerable, in terms of their mental stability, to act out,鈥� he says. Takano has been active on military veterans鈥� issues, as the chair of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Photo credit: https://takano.house.gov/
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Texas Congressman Marc Veasey
Veasey represents a Texas district that鈥檚 majority Black and Latino. He鈥檚 sensitive to immigration issues, knowing how profoundly they impact people in his state. 鈥淚n the community people are concerned about being separated from their loved ones or being deported,鈥� he says. Veasey remains hopeful Congress can eventually pass immigration reform. The congressman is also active in addressing discrimination issues affecting voters.
Photo credit:聽https://twitter.com/RepVeasey
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Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock
Warnock says he is 鈥渁 proud son of the great state of Georgia.鈥� He was elected in 2020 in a special election and is still the minister at historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his first sermon. Warnock says his lifelong experiences in Georgia have shaped him and prepared him for this moment in history. 鈥淢y roots go down deep,鈥� he says of the Peach State. 鈥淎 living example and embodiment of its history and hope, of its pain and promise.鈥�
Photo credit: https://www.senate.gov/
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