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Does Congress Represent America?
A data-driven look at the demographics of our lawmakers vs. the people they serve
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Congress at a Glance
Updated April 2025 (119th Congress)

Party Balance

State Representation

In Congress, representation is split between the House and the Senate. In the House of Representatives, each state's number of seats is based on population — for example, California has the most with 52 representatives, meaning about one representative per 760,000 people, while Wyoming has just one representative for its roughly 580,000 residents. In the Senate, however, every state has two senators, regardless of population, giving equal representation to all 50 states.

Gender Divide

Average Age

58

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Representation in Congress did not happen all at once...
It took centuries of change

1789

The 1st Congress: The First U.S. Congress convenes under the newly ratified Constitution, with all white male property owners.

1865

Slavery Abolished: The 13th Amendment is ratified, abolishing slavery in the United States.

1870

First Black Member of Congress: Hiram Revels of Mississippi becomes the first African American U.S. Senator.

1916

First Woman Elected to Congress: Jeannette Rankin of Montana becomes the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

1920

Women Win the Right to Vote: The 19th Amendment is ratified, granting women the right to vote nationwide.

1943

First Asian American Elected to Congress: Dalip Singh Saund, an Indian American, becomes the first Asian American elected to Congress (House, 1956).

1954

Brown v. Board of Education: The Supreme Court rules segregation in public schools unconstitutional, a major step for civil rights.

1964

Civil Rights Act Passed: Congress passes the Civil Rights Act, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

1969

Moon Landing: Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to walk on the moon, showing technological advancement while representation still lagged behind.

1972

Shirley Chisholm Runs for President: Shirley Chisholm becomes the first Black woman to seek a major party's nomination for U.S. president.

1983

First Openly Gay Member of Congress Comes Out: Representative Gerry Studds of Massachusetts became the first openly gay member of Congress after publicly coming out during a House censure.

2007

First Female Speaker of the House: Nancy Pelosi becomes the first woman in U.S. history to serve as Speaker of the House.

2008

Barack Obama Takes Office: Barack Obama becomes the first African American elected President of the United States.

2018

Most Diverse Congress in History (at the time): The 116th Congress breaks records for gender, racial, and religious diversity.

2022

First Gen Z Member of Congress Elected: Maxwell Frost of Florida becomes the first Gen Z candidate elected to Congress at age 25.

From the nation's inception, the promise of equality has been at odds with the reality of exclusion. Each date marks a step in overcoming barriers that initially limited political participation. The timeline traces the inclusion of marginalized groups through key moments.

Reviewing these events reveals the persistent effort to broaden access to power. While the nation's founding ideals spoke of equality, the composition of its governing bodies evolved slowly. These milestones underscore that achieving a more representative democracy has been an ongoing process.

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The Gap Today
Religious identity can deeply shape a lawmaker's worldview, especially on divisive issues like abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and education policy. Comparing Congress to the general U.S. population reveals a clear gap: while just 33% of Americans are Protestant, 57% of Congress identifies as such. Meanwhile, 25% of Americans claim no religious affiliation — yet only 4% of Congress falls into that category. This imbalance suggests that the religious makeup of Congress may not fully reflect the growing religious diversity and secularization of the nation, with potential consequences for whose values are prioritized in national policy debates.
Understanding the racial and ethnic makeup of Congress helps us evaluate how well lawmakers reflect the population they serve. While about 60% of Americans identify as white, roughly 75% of Congress does. Meanwhile, groups like Asian Americans—who make up nearly 7% of the U.S. population—hold just 3% of seats in Congress. These gaps can influence which voices and experiences are centered in national debates, from education policy to immigration reform.
While Congress has made important strides toward greater inclusion, real representation remains a moving target. Our government shapes policies that touch every part of American life — and when the people making those decisions don't fully reflect the country's diversity, certain voices risk being left unheard. True representation is not just about ticking demographic boxes; it's about ensuring a broader range of experiences, perspectives, and priorities are part of our national conversation. As America continues to evolve, so too must the institutions that serve it.