Hill Diversity

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Updated Senate Staff Diversity Fact Sheet

We have updated our
Key Facts: In 2015, we indicated that people of color made up over 36% of the U.S. population, but only 7.1% of top U.S. Senate staff (Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Directors, Communications Directors, and Committee Staff Directors).

Diversity remains a problem for both major parties. For example, although African Americans account for 23% of Democratic voters, they account for just 1% of Democratic top Senate staff.

In many states, African Americans account for an even greater share of Democratic votes. Based on exit poll analysis of the December 2017 Alabama U.S. Senate race, for example, African Americans accounted for over 55% of the votes cast for Democrat Doug Jones.Of the 39 Staff Directors of full Senate Committees (both Majority and Minority), none are Latino or African American. U.S. Senate offices and local activists can take key steps to increase Senate staff diversity.
Click here to read the full updated fact sheet. Click here for a letter written by 17 organizations urging Senator-elect Doug Jones to hire a diverse staff, including diverse top staff.