Pew Research: 119th Congress Breaks Barriers for Women of Color

The 119th Congress, which convened on January 3rd, marks significant strides for women of color in American politics. According to a recent Pew Research Center analysis, this Congress is witnessing several historic firsts.

Key Highlights

• Two Black Women Senators: For the first time, two Black women are serving concurrently in the Senate: Democrats Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware. They are also the first Black senators to represent their respective states.

• Firsts in the House: Three new representatives are breaking barriers:

  • Janelle Bynum (Democrat) is Oregon's first Black member of Congress.

  • Nellie Pou (Democrat) is the first Hispanic woman to represent New Jersey in Congress.

  • Kimberlyn King-Hinds (Republican), who identifies as Pacific Islander, is the first woman delegate from the Northern Mariana Islands.

• Overall Numbers: The 119th Congress includes 61 women of color, representing 24 states as voting members and three territories and D.C. as nonvoting delegates. This total includes a record high of five senators.

• Historical Context: While the total number of women of color remains the same as in the 118th Congress, these milestones highlight the ongoing progress and increasing representation of diverse voices in Congress.

A Look Back

The journey of women of color in Congress spans six decades, beginning with Patsy Takemoto Mink (D-Hawaii) in 1964. Today, the 117 women of color who have served on Capitol Hill constitute 26% of all women who have ever held congressional office.

Continued Progress

While there's still work to be done, the achievements in the 119th Congress signal a continued movement towards a more inclusive and representative government.