Joint Center Releases Report That Analyzes Diversity in Pipeline Positions in Senate Personal Offices

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2024

Contact:
Chandra Hayslett, chandra@jointcenter.org

WASHINGTON — Today, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies published “Pathway Staff Diversity in Senate Personal Offices,” which provides evidence regarding the lack of racial diversity among U.S. Senate “pathway” staff. The findings suggest that the lack of diversity in pathway positions affects the ability of staff of color to be promoted to top staff positions. The research also shows that Black staff have the most significant difference among staff of color between the percentage of top staff and that of pathway staff in the Senate.

Pathway staff refers to positions held on the pathway to top staff positions in the Senate. Pathway staff include all deputy chiefs of staff, senior advisers, legislative assistants, counsels, and press secretaries/deputy communications directors in the personal offices of U.S. senators.

People of color account for 41.1 percent of the U.S. population, but just 21.4 percent of pathway staff in the Senate are people of color. African Americans are 13.6 percent of the U.S. population, but only 5.4 percent of Senate pathway staff​. Latina/os are 19.1 percent of the U.S. population, but only 6.8 percent of Senate pathway staff​. Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders are 6.6 percent of the U.S. population, but 5.4 percent of Senate pathway staff​.

When a top staff position becomes vacant, some offices promote pathway staffers within their office. Employing a pathway staff that lacks diversity could limit the opportunity to employ a diverse top staff.

“Diversifying the pipeline is crucial for promoting staff of color to top positions in U.S. Senate personal offices. Our findings show that the lack of diversity in pathway roles significantly hampers their chances of advancement, as it limits the pool of experienced candidates who meet the preference for Capitol Hill experience. Ensuring diversity at all levels is essential to fostering true representative leadership on the Hill,” said Dr. LaShonda Brenson, senior researcher, who leads the Hill Diversity Program, and co-author of the report.

Among staff of color in the Senate, Black staff experience the largest disparity between top staff positions and their presence in pathway roles. In 2023, African Americans accounted for 2.1 percent of Senate top staff, but 5.4 percent of Senate pathway staff​. Latina/os accounted for 5.8 percent of Senate top staff, but 6.8 percent of Senate pathway staff​​. Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders accounted for 4.5 percent of Senate top staff, but 5.4 percent of Senate pathway staff​.

“The need for greater diversity among pathway staff is a pressing challenge that the Senate, as an institution, must address. Senators must support a diverse pipeline, particularly for Black staff, who are significantly underrepresented in pathway roles compared to top staff positions. More Black staff in the pipeline would better ensure that the voices of Black voters are adequately reflected, which would better position senators’ ability to effectively understand and represent their constituencies’ diverse perspectives,” said Kimberly Victor, research associate and co-author of the report.

Joint Center President Dedrick Asante-Muhammad said, “This report follows the March 2024 disbandment of the U.S. House of Representatives Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Closing this office amidst the challenges of congressional staffing, particularly for African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans, is likely to make a bad situation worse. It is likely that disbanding the office meant to address the lack of staff of color in Congress will perpetuate the racial divisions and exclusion that have marked our federal Congress. This report is meant to help keep a spotlight on these important issues.”

Additional key findings include:

• The percentage of white top staff (i.e., chiefs of staff, legislative directors, and communications directors) in 2023 (84.2 percent) is higher than that of white pathway staff (78.6 percent). However, the percentage of pathway staff of color is higher than the percentage of top staff of color in 2023. Staffers of color made up 15.8 percent of Senate personal office top staff and make up 21.4 percent of pathway staff in the Senate.
• Pathway staff of color comprise a larger percentage of Senate Democrats staff than Senate Republicans, but both parties fall short of full representation. People of color comprise 14.0 percent of Republican voters in 2022 and 9.7 percent of Republican Senate pathway staff. People of color account for 36.0 percent of Democratic voters in 2022 and 30.4 percent of Democratic Senate pathway staff.
• African American voters were underrepresented among pathway staff in Senate Democratic offices. African Americans accounted for 17.0 percent of Democratic voters in 2022, but only 8.3 percent of Democratic Senate pathway staff. African Americans represented 1.0 percent of Republican voters and 1.6 percent of Republican Senate pathway staff.
• While Black senators only account for four percent of the U.S. Senate, they employ 21.1 percent of the Black pathway staff in the U.S. Senate.
• Senators under 60 years old had the highest percentage of pathway staff of color at 29.6 percent compared to about 14.8 percent for senators 60 to 69 years old and 19.5 percent for senators 70 years old or older.

To read the report, click here.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, America’s Black think tank, provides compelling and actionable policy solutions to eradicate persistent and evolving barriers to the full freedom of Black people in America. We are the trusted forum for leading experts and scholars to participate in major public policy debates and promote ideas that advance Black communities. We use evidence-based research, analysis, convenings, and strategic communications to support Black communities and a network of allies.