Every two years, The Texas Tribune compiles the demographics of the Texas Legislature. Every two years, the headline is the same.
Once again, the disparities between the makeup of the Legislature and the people they are elected to represent are stark: In a state where people of color are in the majority, almost two out of every three lawmakers are white. And not even a quarter of them are women.
Meet the 86th Legislature, starting with its newest members:
There are 27 new representatives:
17 Democrats and 10 Republicans
Vikki GoodwinAustin Goodwin
John TurnerDallas Turner
Ana-Maria RamosRichardson Ramos
Leo PachecoSan Antonio Pacheco
Jon RosenthalHouston Rosenthal
Carl ShermanDeSoto Sherman
Rhetta Andrews BowersRowlett Bowers
Erin ZwienerDriftwood Zwiener
Michelle BeckleyCarrollton Beckley
Terry MezaIrving Meza
Julie JohnsonCarrollton Johnson
Jessica GonzálezDallas González
Gina CalanniKaty Calanni
Alex DominguezBrownsville Dominguez
Sheryl ColeAustin Cole
John BucyAustin Bucy
James TalaricoRound Rock Talarico
Steve AllisonSan Antonio
Cody HarrisPalestine
Jared PattersonFrisco
Mayes MiddletonWallisville
Ben LemanIola
Brad BuckleyKilleen
Keith BellForney
E. Sam HarlessSpring
Candy NobleLucas
Reggie SmithVan Alstyne
There are six new senators:
three Democrats and three Republicans
Beverly PowellBurleson
Nathan JohnsonDallas
Carol AlvaradoHouston
Pat FallonFrisco
Pete FloresPleasanton
Angela PaxtonMcKinney
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More than half of the Legislature’s new members are men. But most of the new members are Democrats. Two of the newest members of the Senate — Democrat Carol Alvarado and Republican Pat Fallon — previously served in the House.
Notably, the addition of Democrats Julie Johnson, Jessica González and Erin Zwiener increased the number of legislators who identify as members of the LGBT community from two to five.
Two incoming House members are not listed above because they previously served in the House.