This is happening whether Republicans want it to or not
The 119th U.S. Congress, which was sworn in less than a month ago, has already made history beyond any legislation it may pass. According to new data from the Pew Research Center, the current Congress is the most racially and ethnically diverse ever, with 26% of voting members identifying as a race or ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White. This is also the eighth Congress in a row to break this record, reflecting a strong trend.
This milestone comes despite the fact that Republicans, who hold the majority in both chambers, are overwhelmingly white. Indeed, the vast majority of the 139 non-white members of Congress are Democrats, representing Black, Hispanic, Asian-American, and Native-American communities. Exactly 75% of the senators who are racial or ethnic minorities are Democrats, while 85% of minority representatives in the House are Democrats. Also, 100% of the House’s five multiracial representatives are Democrats.
For those who claim that Congress is “too diverse,” they might be surprised to learn that even the current Congress’s record-breaking diversity does not match the level of diversity among the U.S. population. While 26% of voting members identify as other than non-Hispanic White, 42% of Americans identify this way, showing that the diversity of the nation’s legislative body falls significantly short when it comes to reflecting the diversity of the nation. As Pew notes, this gap is just as wide as it was back in 1981.
The growing record-high diversity in Congress is a positive development, and it is even more remarkable given the new Republican majorities and the return of the Racist-in-Chief to the White House. However, as the new data set shows, only one major party is the driver of that change, while the other party focuses its energies on voter suppression, gerrymandering, and fear. A government that truly reflects America’s diversity inches closer to reality, but for now it remains elusive.
Ron Leshnower is a lawyer and the author of several books, including President Trump’s Month