As of this writing the 120th Congress will have six black senators. If Scott Colom is pronounced the winner in Mississippi, it will be seven.
| Benchmark | Black share | “Expected” senators | Actual (6–7) as share of expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population (the Joint Center figure) | ~14% | 14 | ~45–50% |
| Adults 25+ | ~12.5% | 12–13 | ~50–55% |
| College graduates 25+ | ~9.5% | 9–10 | ~65–75% |
Or, in other words, the Senate’s racial composition is considerably closer to that of college-educated American adults than to that of the population as a whole. One additional black senator would narrow the difference further. Personally, I see no particular reason the Senate’s racial composition should mirror either population. Senators represent states, not racial groups, and I think their election should depend principally on their qualifications rather than their race.
But it’s interesting.
