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List of Buddhist members of the United States Congress

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This is a list of Buddhist members of the United States Congress.

As of 2025, four Buddhists have been elected to Congress, the first being both Mazie Hirono and Hank Johnson in 2007. As of the 119th Congress, three Buddhists currently serve in Congress, two in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate. All being members of the Democratic Party.[1]

Senate

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Further information: Religious affiliation in the United States Senate
Senator Party State Term Notes
Start End Length of
service
Mazie Hirono Democratic Hawaii January 3, 2013 Incumbent 12 years, 74 days First Buddhist senator[2][3]

House of Representatives

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Further information: Religious affiliation in the United States House of Representatives
Representative Party District Term Notes
Start End Length of
service
Mazie Hirono Democratic HI-02 January 3, 2007 January 3, 2013 6 years, 0 days One of the first two Buddhists in Congress. Retired to run successfully for U.S. Senator from Hawaii.[2][3]
Hank Johnson Democratic GA-04 January 3, 2007 Incumbent 18 years, 74 days One of the first two Buddhists in Congress[4]
Colleen Hanabusa Democratic HI-01 January 3, 2011 January 3, 2015
4 years, 0 days 		Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senator from Hawaii.[5]
November 14, 2016 January 3, 2019 2 years, 50 days Elected in special election to succeed Mark Takai, who died in office
Retired to run unsuccessfully for governor of Hawaii
Derek Tran Democratic CA-45 January 3, 2025 Incumbent 74 days [6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Pew 119th was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Buddhists Get the Vote". Manitoba Buddhist Temple. November 5, 2010. Archived from the original on July 12, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Camire, Dennis (January 5, 2007). "What happened to ... religious tolerance". Honolulu Advertiser. Gannett Company. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  4. ^ Tilove, Jonathan. "New Congress Brings with It Religious Firsts". Newhouse News Service. Archived from the original on December 19, 2006.
  5. ^ "Faith on the Hill: The Religious Composition of the 114th Congress". Pew Research Center. January 5, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2016. The number of Buddhists in Congress fell from three to two, as Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii, lost her bid for a Senate seat.
  6. ^ Dioamant, Jeff (January 2, 2025). "Faith on the Hill". Pew Research Center. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
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