FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Karla Rodriguez, Communications Director
[email protected]
[email protected]
New CHSA Report: Latinos Hold Just 6.4 Percent of Top House Staff Positions
Even among Congress’s 57 Hispanic members, only 33 have at least one likely Hispanic senior staffer.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Hispanic Heritage Month begins, a new report from the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association reveals a stark divide between celebrating Latino representation and giving Latino staff a meaningful role in congressional decision-making.
Latino staff hold just 80 of the 1,244 top House staff positions studied, or 6.4 percent even though Latinos make up 19.4 percent of the U.S. population. The study examined chiefs of staff, legislative directors, communications directors, and full-committee staff directors.
The gap persists even in offices represented by Hispanic members. Among the 57 Hispanic members of Congress, only 33 have at least one likely Hispanic senior staffer. Just 14 percent have a likely Hispanic legislative director, and only 17.5 percent have a likely Hispanic deputy chief of staff.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the generations of Latinos who have shaped this country. But celebration without opportunity is not enough,” said Karla Rodriguez, Communications Director for the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association. “If we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu. Latino voices must be present in the senior roles where Congress sets priorities, writes policy, and makes decisions.”
“Latino staff are doing indispensable work across Congress, from developing legislation to helping families navigate federal agencies. But a pipeline without promotion is not progress,” Rodriguez continued. “This is not a gap confined to one party, one chamber, or one type of office. Congress cannot fully understand or effectively respond to Latino communities while Latino voices remain missing from its highest levels of leadership.”
CHSA is calling on every congressional office to examine who holds its decision-making positions and whether qualified Latino staff have meaningful opportunities to advance. Offices should broaden their recruitment networks, establish transparent promotion pathways, and actively sponsor Latino staff for senior openings. CHSA will help connect offices with qualified candidates through its resume bank and placement program while continuing to provide Latino congressional staff with mentorship, professional development, and opportunities to prepare for senior roles.
“The goal is not simply to bring more Latino staff into Congress. It is to ensure they have the opportunity to lead,” Rodriguez said. “This Hispanic Heritage Month, Congress must move beyond recognition and turn representation into real decision-making power.”
The CHSA directory was compiled in July 2026 using publicly available congressional staff directories and the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 Spanish-surname list. The findings are estimates and do not individually confirm staff members’ identities. Counts refer to listed staff positions and may not represent unique individuals.
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About the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association
The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association is an official, nonpartisan, bicameral Congressional Staff Organization recognized by the Committee on House Administration. Its mission is to recruit, retain, and advance Hispanic staffers in the United States Senate and House of Representatives.
Latino staff hold just 80 of the 1,244 top House staff positions studied, or 6.4 percent even though Latinos make up 19.4 percent of the U.S. population. The study examined chiefs of staff, legislative directors, communications directors, and full-committee staff directors.
The gap persists even in offices represented by Hispanic members. Among the 57 Hispanic members of Congress, only 33 have at least one likely Hispanic senior staffer. Just 14 percent have a likely Hispanic legislative director, and only 17.5 percent have a likely Hispanic deputy chief of staff.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the generations of Latinos who have shaped this country. But celebration without opportunity is not enough,” said Karla Rodriguez, Communications Director for the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association. “If we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu. Latino voices must be present in the senior roles where Congress sets priorities, writes policy, and makes decisions.”
“Latino staff are doing indispensable work across Congress, from developing legislation to helping families navigate federal agencies. But a pipeline without promotion is not progress,” Rodriguez continued. “This is not a gap confined to one party, one chamber, or one type of office. Congress cannot fully understand or effectively respond to Latino communities while Latino voices remain missing from its highest levels of leadership.”
CHSA is calling on every congressional office to examine who holds its decision-making positions and whether qualified Latino staff have meaningful opportunities to advance. Offices should broaden their recruitment networks, establish transparent promotion pathways, and actively sponsor Latino staff for senior openings. CHSA will help connect offices with qualified candidates through its resume bank and placement program while continuing to provide Latino congressional staff with mentorship, professional development, and opportunities to prepare for senior roles.
“The goal is not simply to bring more Latino staff into Congress. It is to ensure they have the opportunity to lead,” Rodriguez said. “This Hispanic Heritage Month, Congress must move beyond recognition and turn representation into real decision-making power.”
The CHSA directory was compiled in July 2026 using publicly available congressional staff directories and the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 Spanish-surname list. The findings are estimates and do not individually confirm staff members’ identities. Counts refer to listed staff positions and may not represent unique individuals.
###
About the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association
The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association is an official, nonpartisan, bicameral Congressional Staff Organization recognized by the Committee on House Administration. Its mission is to recruit, retain, and advance Hispanic staffers in the United States Senate and House of Representatives.