Johns and Mikes Outnumber Women in the House GOP

As candidates declares their candidacy for the DNC primary, the field is more diverse than any election in American history. While Democrats have diversified their ranks, sporting the most diverse (and largest) presidential primary field, and the most diverse freshmen class in the House, the GOP has not diversified their candidates or their representatives.

There are 13 female Republican representatives, making up a little over 6 percent of all GOP politicians currently sitting in the House. By comparison, there are 15 GOP representatives named John or Mike (not including people named Michael) serving in the House, making up about 7 percent of GOP House members.

This statistic illustrates the central gender problem that the Grand Old Party had in the 2018 midterms and is set to repeat in 2020. Republicans lost ground in the House in suburban districts, particularly among suburban women. In addition, only 11 out of 255 Republicans members of Congress are nonwhite.