Meet the 115th Congress

Congress has never looked like America. Capitol Hill lawmakers have long been overwhelmingly middle-aged, professional white men who are also much wealthier and better-educated than the people they represent. Still, every new biennial Congress, including the 115th Congress, ushers in small changes in the membership that reflect a diversifying US population. One notable characteristic: an uptick in lawmakers who were born outside the country. 2017’s newcomers include lawmakers born in India, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Viet Nam. They’re part of a freshman class that numbers 55 in the House and seven in the Senate. Reps Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) are following in the footsteps of their fathers, both of whom served in a variety of federal offices including in the House of Representatives. The Senate’s freshman class includes a different kind of familiar name: John Kennedy. The one being sworn in today is a Republican from Louisiana.