The changing face of Congress in 7 charts
The 119th Congress is the most racially and ethnically diverse in history, and it includes the nation’s first openly transgender legislator at the federal level.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Congress
119th Congress brings firsts for women of color
In the Senate, two Black women are serving concurrently for the first time. And in the House, two states and one U.S. territory elected their first Black, Hispanic or Pacific Islander woman lawmaker.
Faith on the Hill
Christians will make up 87% of voting members in the Senate and House of Representatives, combined, in the 2025-27 congressional session.
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Immigrants and children of immigrants make up at least 15% of 119th Congress
In total, at least 80 lawmakers are foreign born or have at least one parent who was born in another country, including 61 in the House and 19 in the Senate.
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Women account for 28% of lawmakers in the 119th Congress – unchanged from the last Congress
As of the new Congress’ first day in session, a total of 150 senators and representatives were women.
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Public Anticipates Changes With Trump but Is Split Over Whether They Will Be Good or Bad
As Trump returns to the White House, Republicans are upbeat about Trump’s actions and agenda, but Democrats find little to like.
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119th Congress’ LGBTQ members include first trans representative
One senator and 12 members of the House of Representatives identify as lesbian, gay, transgender or queer.
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119th Congress brings new growth in racial, ethnic diversity to Capitol Hill
Overall, 139 of today’s senators and representatives identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian American or Native American.
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Age and generation in the 119th Congress: Somewhat younger, with fewer Boomers and more Gen Xers
The median age of voting members of the House of Representatives is now 57.5 years, while the Senate’s median age is 64.7 years.
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Slim majorities have become more common in the U.S. House and Senate
Republicans will kick off the 119th Congress with the smallest margin of control in the U.S. House of Representatives in modern history.
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2024 elections show more partisan splits between states’ presidential and Senate votes than in recent past
Four states that Republican Donald Trump carried in this month’s presidential election also elected Democratic senators.
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17 states haven’t had a female U.S. senator, and 18 haven’t had a woman governor
Five races for U.S. Senate and two for governor feature a major-party nominee who, if elected, would be the first woman in their state to hold the office.
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For decades, most U.S. House seats have mainly been won by the incumbent party
In 2020, 93% of districts were retained by the same party; only 18 of 435 districts (4%) flipped.
