The 117th Congress will be the most diverse group of lawmakers ever to chart the nation’s course when it meets in January after women and nonwhite candidates made gains in the November elections.
At least 121 women will be among the 441 members and delegates to the House of Representatives, with several races yet to be formally declared. And women will occupy 26 seats in the Senate at least until the first woman who will serve as vice president, Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisBiden announces all-female White House communications team Biden to nominate Neera Tanden, Cecilia Rouse to economic team: WSJMemo to Biden: Go big use the moment to not only rebuild but to rebuild differentlyMORE (D-Calif.), resigns her seat.
White men still hold a majority of seats in Congress, but the next session will include 59 Black Americans, the highest number on record and up five from the previous Congress. Eighteen members of Asian descent and 45 who identify as Hispanic or Latino will serve, along with five Native Americans and one Native Hawaiian.
The new Congress will include the first three Korean American women ever to serve in Congress, Reps.-elect Michelle Steel (R-Calif.), Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.).
The number of veterans who will serve in the new Congress continues a decades-long downward trend. Just under 90 members of the new Congress will have served in the nation’s military, the lowest figure in modern memory. In the 1970s, at least 70 percent of lawmakers had served in the military, according to the Pew Research Center; today, that number is under 20 percent.
Congress remains a bastion for older Americans. The average member of the House of Representatives is 57.7 years old, while the average senator is 63.7 years of age. There is more than half a century between the nations oldest lawmakers Sen. Dianne FeinsteinDianne Emiel FeinsteinThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC – COVID-19 fears surround Thanksgiving holidayFeinstein departure from top post sets stage for Judiciary fightWhitehouse says Democratic caucus will decide future of Judiciary CommitteeMORE (D-Calif.), Sen. Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyCongress set for chaotic year-end sprintSpending deal clears obstacle in shutdown fightTrump, Pelosi barrel toward final border wall showdownMORE (R-Ala.), Sen. Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyColorado governor, spouse test positive for COVID-19McConnell halts in-person Republican lunches amid COVID-19 surgeRep. Rick Allen tests positive for COVID-19MORE (R-Iowa) and Rep. Don YoungDonald (Don) Edwin YoungTrump administration denies permit for controversial Pebble MineRep. Rick Allen tests positive for COVID-19Capitol’s COVID-19 spike could be bad Thanksgiving previewMORE (R-Alaska) and the youngest, Rep.-elect Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.).
The oldest Senate delegation will come from Vermont, where Sen. Patrick LeahyPatrick Joseph LeahyThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC – Trump OKs transition; Biden taps Treasury, State experienceDurbin seeks to become top-ranking Democrat on Judiciary panelFeinstein to step down as top Democrat on Judiciary CommitteeMORE (D) is 80 and Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersBiden announces all-female White House communications team The ‘diploma divide’ in American politicsBernie Sanders should opt for a government-created vaccine from China or RussiaMORE (I) is 79. The youngest hails from New Mexico, where Sen. Martin HeinrichMartin Trevor HeinrichFormer Sen. Carol Moseley Braun stumps for Interior post: ‘A natural fit for me’Five House Democrats who could join Biden CabinetHouse Democrats push Biden to pick Haaland as next Interior secretaryMORE (D) and Sen.-elect Ben Ray Luján (D) are both just under 50.
Using Pews definition of generations, which pegs the first millennials as those born in 1981, Cawthorn is among 31 members of the millennial generation who will serve in Congress. There are 160 members of Generation X in Congress, 296 baby boomers and 39 members of the silent generation still serving.
