Record Number of Women of Color to Serve in the U.S. Congress

At least 50 (46D, 4R) women of color will serve in the U.S. Congress in 2021, surpassing the previous record of 48, set in 2019. Women of color will also set a new record for U.S. House members, with 47 (43D, 4R) women of color having already won House seats, besting the previous record of 44. Currently, 3 (2D, 1R) women of color congressional nominees - all non-incumbents - remain in House races that are not yet called.

Of the 47 (43D, 4R) women of color selected for House seats so far, 25 (25D) are Black women, which surpasses the previous record of Black women in the House (22, set in 2019); 13 (10D, 3R) are Latinas, which surpasses the previous record of Latinas in the House (12, set in 2019); 7 (6D, 1R) are Asian or Pacific Islander women; 2 (2D) are Native American women; and 1 (1D) is a Middle Eastern or North African woman. This includes two multiracial women, including one woman who identifies as both Black and Asian and another woman who identifies as both white and Latina. These women are counted once in the overall number of women of color who have won House seats, but also in each of the totals for women members in each racial/ethnic group. We are aware that numerous media organizations have reported that Representative-elect Yvette Herrell is of Native American heritage and a member of the Cherokee Nation. CAWP relies on self-identification to determine candidate and officeholder race/ethnicity. She has provided her self-identification with us as white alone.

In the Senate, no women of color won election in 2020. None of the four women of color currently serving in the U.S. Senate, a record high, were up for re-election this year. With Senator Kamala Harris's ascendance to the vice presidency, just three women of color will be in the Senate in 2021: Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).

"Just five women of color have served in the U.S. Senate in all of American history, with four of those five currently in office, one of whom will soon leave the Senate for the vice presidency. Next year, if California Governor Gavin Newsom does not appoint a Black woman to fill the seat of Vice Presidentelect Harris, no Black women will serve in the Senate," said CAWP Director Debbie Walsh. "We're heartened by the progress made this year in electing women of color to the House, but it is clear that there is much work left undone. Expanding the diversity of experiences among the people who represent us improves outcomes for all Americans."

As many races remain too close to call, these numbers will change as results are determined. For the most current data about women in the 2020 elections, visit CAWP's Election 2020 Results Tracker, and for full results about women in the 2020 elections, head to CAWP's Election Analysis.