Democratic Rep. Sarah McBride of Delaware – Congress’ first openly transgender member – appears in the U.S. Capitol before being sworn in to the 119th Congress on Jan. 3, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
Thirteen members of the 119th Congress are openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ), according to a Pew Research Center analysis of official biographies, news reports and candidate databases. This total includes Congress’ first openly trans member.
The number of LGBTQ members hasn’t changed since the last Congress, but it has grown markedly since the start of the 111th Congress in 2009. At that time, two members were openly gay men and one was a lesbian, according to data from the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, a political action committee that works to elect LGBTQ+ candidates.
One senator and 12 members of the House of Representatives identify as lesbian, gay, transgender or queer as of Jan. 3, when the 119th Congress was sworn in.
How we did this
This analysis is part of Pew Research Center’s work to analyze the demographic makeup of the 119th U.S. Congress. To determine the number of lawmakers in the current and previous Congresses who are openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, we used data from the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, a political action committee that works to elect LGBTQ+ politicians; Brookings Vital Statistics on Congress; and our own analysis of official biographies, campaign websites and news articles.
Our analysis reflects the 533 voting members of Congress as of Jan. 3, 2025, the first day of the new Congress. It does not include the Florida House seat vacated by former Rep. Matt Gaetz or the Senate seat that former West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice assumed on Jan. 14.
For data on the 118th Congress, we exclude Democratic Sen. Laphonza Butler who was appointed in 2023 to fill a vacancy but didn’t seek reelection. Butler was the first Black openly lesbian U.S. senator. This analysis of LGBTQ representation among senators and representatives is limited to the gender and sexual identities that have been openly represented in the U.S. Congress. As of the 119th Congress, this includes lesbian, gay, transgender and queer members. No current members publicly identify as bisexual.
The only bisexual member of the last Congress, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, did not seek reelection in 2024. That means Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin – elected in 2012 as the first openly gay senator – is again the Senate’s only LGBTQ lawmaker.
All 13 openly LGBTQ members of the new Congress are Democrats. Ten are returning members and three are new.
Across both chambers, six members are gay men. Seven are women who are gay, lesbian, transgender or queer.
Members of Congress who are openly LGBTQ account for 2.4% of the 533 voting lawmakers sworn in on Jan. 3, 2025. But LGBTQ+ Americans made up 7.6% of the adult population overall in 2023, according to Gallup surveys.
November’s election also brought several firsts at the state level. LGBTQ candidates won legislative seats in 39 states, according to Victory Fund data and news reports. In Texas, Molly Cook, who is bisexual, became the first openly LGBTQ person elected to a full term in the state Senate.
The 119th Congress is making history with the inclusion of its LGBTQ members, including the first transgender representative. This milestone marks a significant moment for representation and diversity in the legislative branch of the United States government.
The newly elected transgender representative is breaking barriers and paving the way for more LGBTQ individuals to hold positions of power and influence in Congress. Their presence serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for the LGBTQ community, showing that anyone, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, can make a difference in shaping the future of our country.
As we celebrate the achievements of these LGBTQ members in the 119th Congress, let us also continue to advocate for equality, acceptance, and inclusivity for all individuals, regardless of who they are or who they love. This is just the beginning of a more equitable and diverse political landscape, and we must continue to strive for progress and positive change.
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Who represents you? Here are the demographics of the new US Congress
Updated: 12:09 PM EST Jan 3, 2025
Friday marks the start of the 119th United States Congress as new members are scheduled to be sworn in on Capitol Hill. As Washington prepares for the new legislative session, let’s meet who will be in office. Republicans will hold a dual-chamber majority over Democrats after securing their lead in the Senate by flipping four seats in the November elections. The Senate is now composed of 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats. In the House of Representatives, Republicans hold a narrow 219-215 lead over Democrats. Florida District 1 is currently vacant due to the Nov. 21 withdrawal of Matt Gaetz after he was investigated by the Department of Justice for alleged sex trafficking.A special election is set in the new year to fill the vacant seat. The Republican primary will be on Jan. 28 and the general election will be on April 1.Across both chambers of Congress, members are predominately white. Hispanic and Latino people are particularly underrepresented, and Black people are underrepresented in the House.Viewing in the app? Click here for the best interactive experience.Over 90% of elected Republicans to Congress are white. In the U.S., white people only make up about 58% of the general population. Democratic Congress members are more racially and ethnically diverse, with about 56% white, 21% Black and 12% Hispanic/Latino. The 119th Congress has yet to secure a 50-50 gender equality split. There will be one less woman in the new session than there was on Election Day in 2024, according to the Center for American Women and Politics.Democrats are closer to a halfway split, with women representing 42% of members across both chambers. Among Republicans, only 15% are women.As for age — which has been a center of conversation for the president’s seat — while senators are, on average, slightly older than representatives, there’s a fair range across generations.Already, Gen Z has landed on Capitol Hill, with Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Florida, taking office in 2023. Frost remains the youngest member of Congress at 27, while Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is the oldest at 91. Grassley has served in the Senate for 44 years. He’s tied for most years of service with House Reps. Christopher Smith, R-New Jersey; Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland; and Harold Rogers, R-Kentucky.Other interesting demographic facts:There are 26 Mikes/Michaels elected to the 119th Congress.John/Jon is the runner-up at 22 members.The most common birth month was February, and the most common birthday of the month was the 4th. Representatives Sanford Bishop, D-Georgia; Michael Guest, R-Mississippi; and Claudia Tenney, R-New York, are the three lucky ones with birthdays directly on Feb. 4. The first transgender member of Congress — Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Deleware — will be sworn in on Jan. 3.Meet your senators and representatives below. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
WASHINGTON —
Friday marks the start of the 119th United States Congress as new members are scheduled to be sworn in on Capitol Hill. As Washington prepares for the new legislative session, let’s meet who will be in office.
Republicans will hold a dual-chamber majority over Democrats after securing their lead in the Senate by flipping four seats in the November elections. The Senate is now composed of 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats.
In the House of Representatives, Republicans hold a narrow 219-215 lead over Democrats. Florida District 1 is currently vacant due to the Nov. 21 withdrawal of Matt Gaetz after he was investigated by the Department of Justice for alleged sex trafficking.
A special election is set in the new year to fill the vacant seat. The Republican primary will be on Jan. 28 and the general election will be on April 1.
Across both chambers of Congress, members are predominately white. Hispanic and Latino people are particularly underrepresented, and Black people are underrepresented in the House.
Viewing in the app? Click here for the best interactive experience.
Over 90% of elected Republicans to Congress are white. In the U.S., white people only make up about 58% of the general population.
Democratic Congress members are more racially and ethnically diverse, with about 56% white, 21% Black and 12% Hispanic/Latino.
The 119th Congress has yet to secure a 50-50 gender equality split. There will be one less woman in the new session than there was on Election Day in 2024, according to the Center for American Women and Politics.
Democrats are closer to a halfway split, with women representing 42% of members across both chambers. Among Republicans, only 15% are women.
As for age — which has been a center of conversation for the president’s seat — while senators are, on average, slightly older than representatives, there’s a fair range across generations.
Already, Gen Z has landed on Capitol Hill, with Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Florida, taking office in 2023. Frost remains the youngest member of Congress at 27, while Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is the oldest at 91.
Grassley has served in the Senate for 44 years. He’s tied for most years of service with House Reps. Christopher Smith, R-New Jersey; Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland; and Harold Rogers, R-Kentucky.
Other interesting demographic facts:
There are 26 Mikes/Michaels elected to the 119th Congress.
John/Jon is the runner-up at 22 members.
The most common birth month was February, and the most common birthday of the month was the 4th.
Representatives Sanford Bishop, D-Georgia; Michael Guest, R-Mississippi; and Claudia Tenney, R-New York, are the three lucky ones with birthdays directly on Feb. 4.
The first transgender member of Congress — Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Deleware — will be sworn in on Jan. 3.
Meet your senators and representatives below.
The 119th Congress, which began its session in January 2021, is shaping up to be one of the most diverse in history. With a record number of women, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals serving in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the demographics of this Congress reflect a more accurate representation of the American population.
According to data from the Pew Research Center, the 119th Congress is composed of 27% women, the highest percentage in history. Additionally, 23% of members are people of color, a significant increase from previous sessions. This Congress also includes a record number of LGBTQ individuals, with at least nine openly LGBTQ members serving.
The increase in diversity in the 119th Congress is a positive step towards a more representative government that reflects the diversity of the American people. As lawmakers work to address issues such as racial inequality, gender discrimination, and LGBTQ rights, having a Congress that reflects the demographics of the country is crucial.
While there is still work to be done to ensure full representation for all marginalized groups, the demographics of the 119th Congress are a promising sign of progress towards a more inclusive and equitable government.
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demographics, 119th Congress, Congress demographics, US Congress, diversity in Congress, political representation, gender representation, racial diversity, age distribution, party affiliations, Congress members, Congress statistics
When the new Congress convenes Friday, there will be fewer people of color in the delegation than in recent years.
The 119th Congress will have 136 people of color, four fewer than the previous U.S. House and Senate, which was the most ethnically and racially diverse in history. However, this year’s delegation consists of several firsts, including the first time an openly transgender woman has served in Congress.
When it comes to parity between congressional representatives and the populations they serve, Illinois and Ohio are the only states with the same percentage of people of color in both. People of color make up 42% of Illinois’ population and representation; Ohio is 24%.
In most states, people of color are underrepresented in the House and Senate
Share of people of color in congress compared to the population that they represent
In the United States, 57% of the population are white and 43% are nonwhite, according to 2023 census data. In the House and Senate, 399 out of 535 representatives are white. A quarter are nonwhite.
From most people of color in Congress to least
States where the share of people of color in Congress matches their populations
States where the share of people of color in congress is lower than their populations
States where the share of people of color in Congress is lower than their populations
States with no representatives of color in Congress
States with no representatives of color in Congress
LOS ANGELES TIMES
Several other states are close to parity. New Mexico’s population is 64% nonwhite and 36% white. In the House and Senate, two out of five representatives are white, while 40% are nonwhite. Arizona’s representation is 55% white compared with 52% in its population.
Sixty-seven percent of California’s population and 52% of its representatives are people of color. The state’s delegation includes the highest number of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with 10 members.
Less than a third of the 119th Congress are women. In the new Congress, six states have no female House or Senate members. Seven states have higher female representation in Congress than in their population.
U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) is the first openly transgender member of Congress.
(Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)
“My service is a testament to the fair-mindedness of Delawareans who this November demonstrated what I have seen throughout my life: that they judge candidates based on their ideas, not their identities,” McBride said. “I know how much this news would have meant to me as a young person growing up, worried that the heart of this country was simply not big enough to love someone like me, to have seen an out trans person get elected to federal office.”
North Dakota also had a milestone with Republican Julie Fedorchak becoming the first woman to represent the state in the U.S. House of Representatives. Fedorchak is also the first freshman in 14 years to be seated on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
“What’s most important to me is how I use this,” Fedorchak told The Times. “I’m really excited to join the Republican women, a majority of them have great backgrounds and are really serious about good policy.”
Mississippi is the only state yet to send a woman to the House.
Women make up at least 50% of congressional representation in 11 states
Seven states have 50% or more women represented in the House and Senate. Five states are represented by 100% men.
In 2023, Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) became Vermont’s first woman and out LGBTQ+ congressperson.
(Amanda Andrade-Rhoades / Associated Press)
In 2023, the 118th Congress was the most ethnically and racially diverse U.S. House and Senate in history. U.S. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-Fla.) was the first member of Generation Z to walk the congressional corridors. Trailblazers like Democrats U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, Vermont’s first woman and out LGBTQ+ congressperson, and U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, Pennsylvania’s first Black woman in Congress, shattered long-standing glass ceilings.
New Jersey is the only state with an all-minority Senate delegation in the country.
Newly elected Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) is the first Korean American in the Senate. Kim said that while he is proud to break barriers, he looks forward to the day when his role in Congress is no longer seen as groundbreaking or pioneering, but commonplace. The night he was sworn into Congress, Kim called his mother who was crying tears of joy.
“It was really powerful to see this moment, not just for my family but for what it means to Korean Americans, Asian Americans, and what it means to immigrant families,” Kim said. “Hopefully they can see a continuation of this American dream that has been a shared pursuit for so many different ethnic groups and communities.”
The 119th Congress: How closely does your state’s delegation match its constituency?
As the 119th Congress convenes, it’s important to take a closer look at the makeup of each state’s delegation and how closely it reflects the demographic and political makeup of its constituents. With representatives and senators elected to represent the interests of their respective states, it’s crucial to assess whether they truly represent the diversity and values of their constituents.
In some states, the delegation may closely mirror the demographic and political composition of the state as a whole. However, in others, there may be significant discrepancies that raise questions about the representativeness of the delegation.
This post will delve into the makeup of each state’s delegation in the 119th Congress, analyzing factors such as gender, race, political affiliation, and ideology. By examining these factors, we can gain a better understanding of how well our elected officials truly represent the people they serve.
Stay tuned for a detailed analysis of each state’s delegation in the 119th Congress and how closely it aligns with its constituency.
The House is expected to have 434 members present. The one seat expected to be vacant is that of former Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Members will be called individually and vote by calling out a name. To be reelected as speaker, Johnson will need a majority. The magic number isn’t set in stone, which is why things can get a bit tricky. It could change based on attendance, and whether members vote for a named candidate or simply record themselves as “present.”
So let’s run through some scenarios.
If all 215 Democrats show up and unite behind their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Johnson will only be able to lose one Republican who votes for another named candidate:
Jeffries: 215
Johnson: 218
Other candidate: 1
218 out of 434 = A majority for Johnson
If he loses a second Republican to another named candidate, he would not have the magic number for a majority:
Jeffries: 215
Johnson: 217
Other candidate: 2
217 out of 434 = Not a majority
He could in theory lose one GOP vote to another named candidate, and afford one other Republican defection so long as that person records “present” and doesn’t vote for an alternative candidate. That’s because the number he’d need for a majority would be lower:
Jeffries: 215
Johnson: 217
Other candidate: 1
Present: 1
217 out of 433 = A majority for Johnson
He cannot lose a GOP vote to a named candidate if two Republicans vote “present,” however:
Jeffries: 215
Johnson: 216
Other candidate: 1
Present: 2
216 out of 432 = Not a majority for Johnson
He could lose three defectors if they all vote “present”:
Jeffries: 215
Johnson: 216
Present: 3
216 out of 431 = A majority for Johnson
However, we know this last scenario won’t happen, because Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has already told reporters he won’t vote for Johnson and will vote for an alternate candidate.
Currently, Massie is the only “no.” He told reporters in December that he had a “few” alternate candidates in mind, but wouldn’t say who they were.
There are several Republicans who have publicly said they’re undecided on Johnson, including Reps. Chip Roy, Andy Biggs, Victoria Spartz, Tim Burchett and Ralph Norman. Johnson met with several of the holdouts on Thursday.
The key advantage for Johnson is that no other Republican is currently challenging him or has publicly expressed interest in doing so.
The 119th Congress is officially underway, and the House of Representatives is gearing up for a historic vote for speaker. As the newly elected members take their seats, all eyes are on the House floor as the representatives prepare to cast their votes for the individual who will lead the chamber for the next two years.
The speaker of the House is a pivotal role, responsible for presiding over debates, guiding legislation, and representing the institution to the public. With the Democrats holding a slim majority in the House, the vote for speaker is expected to be a closely contested and crucial decision.
The outcome of this vote will not only set the tone for the 119th Congress but will also shape the legislative agenda and priorities of the House for the foreseeable future. As the representatives gather to make their choice, the nation watches with anticipation to see who will emerge as the leader of the House of Representatives.
Stay tuned for updates on the results of the speaker vote and the latest developments in the 119th Congress.
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