Senate Democrats Release Results Of 2026 Senate Diversity Initiative Survey Showing Most Diverse Staff Since Data Collection Began

Record 43% Of Senate Democratic Staff Identify As People Of Color; Caucus Employs 40% More Staffers Of Color Than In 2017

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Democrats released the 2026 Senate Democratic Diversity Initiative survey showing an increase in the number of diverse staffers in Senate Democratic offices. You can find the report here.

Today, the Senate Democratic Diversity Initiative released the results of its 10th annual survey of Democratic staffers, showing that Senate Democrats employ the most diverse staff since the caucus began collecting this data in 2017.

The 10th annual survey found that 43% of Senate Democratic staffers identify as people of color-a record high. Senate Democratic offices now employ 40% more staffers of color than they did in 2017, reflecting the caucus's sustained commitment to building a workforce that represents the country it serves.

"While Donald Trump is purging people of color from public service and waging war on diversity, Senate Democrats are moving in the opposite direction-and the results speak for themselves," said Leader Schumer. "Democratic staff is the most diverse it has been since we began collecting this data, with 40% more staffers of color than in 2017. That progress makes the Senate stronger, more effective and more representative of the country we serve. We are proud of this record-and determined to build on it."

Key findings from the 2026 survey include:

• 43% of Democratic Senate staffers are people of color, up from 42% last year
• 16% identify as Latino
• 13% identify as African-American
• 12% identify as Asian American and Pacific Islander
• 3% identify as Middle East/North African
• 2% identify as Native American, Alaskan, or Hawaiian
• 16% identify as LGBTQ
• 58% identify as female

The Senate Democratic Diversity Initiative was created by then-Leader Harry Reid to build a diverse workforce in the Senate. After becoming Democratic Leader, Senator Schumer expanded that legacy. In 2017, Schumer tasked the Senate Democratic Diversity Initiative to conduct an annual staff survey to encourage transparency, measure progress, identify gaps and help offices recruit and retain talent from every background.

Senate Democrats remain committed to building a workforce that reflects America's diversity, particularly as that diversity comes under sustained attack. Senate Republicans still do not collect or publicly release comparable information about their staff.

The 2026 survey results are available here.

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