Michael Brooks
The Catholic representation in the 119th Congress grew to over 28% of the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, according to a report from the Pew Research Center. This is a slight increase from the 118th Congress, which was comprised of 27.7% Catholic members. The 119th Congress has 150 Catholic members, with 126 in the House and 24 in the Senate. The majority of Catholic members in both chambers are Democrats. In terms of new members, 21 out of 73 are Catholic, which accounts for 28.8% of the freshmen.
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What You'll Learn
In 2025, 28% of the House of Representatives were Catholic
Catholics are the largest Christian denomination represented in Congress, with 126 members in the House and 24 Senators identifying as Catholic in 2025. The majority of Catholics in Congress are Democrats, with 70 in the House and 13 in the Senate belonging to the Democratic Party. There are 56 Catholic Republicans in the House and 11 in the Senate.
While Catholics are well-represented in the House, they are less so in the leadership of the U.S. Senate, with only one Catholic among the six highest leadership positions in either party. However, Catholics hold several key leadership positions in the House, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Majority Whip Tom Emmer of the Republican Party, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar.
Compared to the general population, Catholics are overrepresented in Congress by more than eight percentage points. While 20% of adults in the United States identify as Catholic, they make up 28% of Congress. On the other hand, the religiously unaffiliated are significantly underrepresented in Congress, making up just 0.6% of Congress despite accounting for 23% of the general public.
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Catholics are well-represented in House leadership positions
Catholics make up majorities of congressional delegations from six states: Alaska, Arizona, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. They also make up half of the delegations from Iowa, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. Overall, there are 141 Catholics in the House, or 32% of the chamber.
In terms of party breakdown, Democrats in Congress are more likely than Republicans to identify as Catholic. More than a third of congressional Democrats (35%) are Catholic, compared to just over a quarter of Republicans (26%). This gap has shrunk over the past several decades due to the election of more Catholic Republicans.
Catholics in Congress have released statements of principles that align with Catholic social teaching, such as helping the poor, disadvantaged, and oppressed, and protecting the vulnerable. They also emphasize the value of human life and encourage pregnancies to be carried to term while promoting alternatives to abortion.
While there may not be a Catholic bloc in Congress, Catholics are well-represented in House leadership positions, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain. Catholics also hold leadership positions among the Democrats, with Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu.
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There are seven Latino senators, two of whom are Catholic
The Catholic representation in the 119th Congress grew slightly from the previous Congress to just over 28% of the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, according to a report from the Pew Research Center. This is in comparison to 21% of US adults who identify as Catholic. The number of Catholic members in Congress increased by two members, from 148 in the 118th Congress to 150 in the 119th Congress. This includes 126 members of the House and 24 Senators.
The Catholic members of the House and Senate matter a great deal, even though there is no Catholic bloc in Congress. Democrats, including newly elected Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, are more likely than Republicans to identify as Catholic. More than a third of congressional Democrats (35%) are Catholic, while just over a quarter of Republicans (26%) identify as Catholic.
In 2025, there were seven Latino senators, a historical record. Two of these senators were Catholic: Democrat Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Republican Bernie Moreno of Ohio.
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31% of Democrats in Congress are Catholic
Catholics are well-represented in the US Congress, with 31% of Democrats in Congress identifying as Catholic. This is a higher proportion than in the US population, where 20% consider themselves Catholic. In the 119th Congress, there were 70 Catholic Democrats in the House and 13 in the Senate.
The Catholic share of Congress has been increasing. In the 87th Congress in 1961, only 19% of members were Catholic. By 2019, Catholics made up 30.5% of Congress, with 86 Catholic Democrats and 55 Catholic Republicans. In 2025, the Catholic share of Congress was estimated to be 28.2%, with 150 Catholic members of Congress.
Catholics are the largest Christian denomination represented in Congress, and they make up majorities of congressional delegations from six states: Alaska, Arizona, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Half of the delegations from Iowa, New Jersey, and Rhode Island are also Catholic.
Catholic members of Congress have released statements of principles, expressing their commitment to the Catholic Church's teachings on the value of human life and the dignity of every person. They also emphasize their desire to help the poor, disadvantaged, and oppressed and to ensure that all Americans are given meaningful opportunities.
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25% of Republicans in Congress are Catholic
The Catholic Church has long played a role in American politics. In 1830, Edward Kavanagh became the first Catholic elected from New England. In 1961, John F. Kennedy became the first Catholic president of the United States. In 2007, Nancy Pelosi became the first female Speaker of the House and was Catholic.
In the 119th Congress, Catholics made up 28.2% of the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, according to a report from the Pew Research Center. This is a slight increase from the previous Congress, which was made up of 27.7% Catholics. The percentage of Catholics in Congress has been steadily increasing since 1961 when 19% of Congress was Catholic.
While Catholics are overrepresented in Congress compared to the general population, they are slightly underrepresented in the Republican Party. According to the Pew Research Center, Catholics make up 32% of Democrats in Congress and 25% of Republicans. This gap has shrunk over the past several decades, mostly due to the election of more Catholics on the Republican side.
Catholics are well-represented in House leadership positions, including three of the top five Republicans in the chamber: Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, and Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain of Michigan.
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Frequently asked questions
21 out of 73 new members of Congress are Catholic, which accounts for 28.8% of the freshmen.
Catholics make up 28.2% of the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. They are the largest Christian denomination represented in Congress.
About 20% of adults in the US consider themselves Catholic, meaning Catholics are overrepresented in Congress by more than eight percentage points.
