118th Congress is most racially diverse to date: research

The number of lawmakers in the 118th Congress who identify their race or ethnicity as something other than white is the highest in the country’s history. 

In total, 133 members of Congress identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian American, American Indian or Alaska Native, representing one quarter of the 534 voting members, as of Jan. 3, 2023. 

That’s according to a new report from the Pew Research Center based on data from the Congressional Research Service. The findings are consistent with past reports documenting the growing racial and ethnic diversity of Congress. Each of the past seven Congresses has broken its predecessor’s diversity record. 

In the current Congress, 60 lawmakers identify as Black, 54 as Hispanic, 18 as Asian American and five as American Indian or Alaska Native.