The newly sworn-in 113th Congress marks a historic milestoneit’s the most diverse in history. A record number of Blacks, Latinos, Asians and women now hold seats among the 535 Senate and House of Representatives members. And the diversity goes beyond race/ethnicity and gender. Congress is:
- 8 percent Black: a total of 43
- 6 percent Latino: a total of 32
- 5.6 percent Asian: a total of 30
- 18.9 percent women: a total of 101. Read facts about the congresswomen.
- Four Arab Americans and one Caribbean American were also elected to Congress
Diversity in religion and sexual orientation also increased: The first Buddhist senator, Senator Mazie Hirondo; the first Hindu representative, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard; the only Unitarian Universalist, Congresswoman Ami Bera; the first openly gay senator, Senator Tammy Baldwin; the first nonwhite LGBT, Congressman Mark Takano; and the first openly bisexual woman and only atheist, Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema, were also sworn in.
