The 119th Congress, sworn in on January 3, is making history for women of color. For the first time ever, two Black women are serving in the Senate at the same time. Meanwhile, the House welcomed its first-ever Black, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander congresswomen from two states and one U.S. territory.
In total, 61 women of color are serving in Congress—spanning 24 states, three territories, and D.C.. Among them are five senators, the highest number to date. Here’s a closer look at who they are:
- 31 Black women
- 19 Hispanic women
- 9 Asian women
- 2 Pacific Islander women
- 1 Native American woman (Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas)
(Rep. Marilyn Strickland of Washington is both Black and Asian and is counted in both categories but only once in the total.)
Interestingly, this is the first time in 15 years that the total number of women of color in Congress hasn’t increased from the previous term. But that doesn’t mean there haven’t been exciting new milestones:
- Two Black women senators are serving at the same time for the first time. Freshmen Senators Angela Alsobrooks (Maryland) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (Delaware) also made history as the first Black senators from their states.
- Janelle Bynum became Oregon’s first Black congresswoman.
- Nellie Pou is New Jersey’s first Hispanic congresswoman.
- Kimberlyn King-Hinds is the first Pacific Islander woman delegate from the Northern Mariana Islands.
Party Breakdown & Representation
The vast majority of these women—56 out of 61—are serving in the House. In the Senate, two are Black, two are Asian American, and one is Hispanic. Most are Democrats (54), while seven are Republicans. Among the GOP members:
- 4 are Hispanic
- 2 are Pacific Islander
- 1 is Asian
Paving the Way: A Look at History
Women of color have been breaking barriers in Congress for 60 years:
- Patsy Mink (Hawaii, 1964) – First Asian American congresswoman
- Shirley Chisholm (New York, 1968) – First Black congresswoman
- Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Florida, 1989) – First Hispanic congresswoman
Since then, 117 women of color have served in Congress, but they still make up only 26% of all women who have ever held congressional office.
Breaking It Down by Race & Ethnicity
- Black women: 64 have served in Congress (60 in the House, 5 in the Senate). Among them, Lisa Blunt Rochester is the only Black woman elected to both the House and Senate.
- Hispanic women: 33 have served in Congress, with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada) being the only one in the Senate.
- Asian & Pacific Islander women: Since 1964, 18 have served, with Mazie Hirono (Hawaii) and Tammy Duckworth (Illinois) elected to both chambers.
- Native American women: Three have served in the House, including Deb Haaland (New Mexico), the first Native American Cabinet secretary.
- Alaska Native women: Mary Peltola (Alaska) is the first—and so far, only—one to serve in Congress.
State-Level Trends
- 30 states have elected at least one woman of color to Congress.
- The top three states: California (24), Florida (10), and Texas (9).
- New milestones: Virginia elected its first Black congresswoman in 2023, and the Northern Mariana Islands elected its first woman delegate ever in 2024.
Despite the progress, women of color still have plenty of room to grow in Congress. As more states and territories continue to make history, the future of representation is looking brighter than ever.
