This is a list of Buddhist members of the United States Congress.
As of 2023[update], only three Buddhists have ever been elected to Congress, the first being both Mazie Hirono and Hank Johnson in 2007. One Buddhist currently serves in the House of Representatives and one Buddhist serves in the Senate.
Further information: Religious affiliation in the United States Senate |
Senator | Party | State | Term | Notes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Start | End | Length of service (days) | ||||||
Mazie Hirono | Democratic | Hawaii | January 3, 2013 | Incumbent | 4,060 (11 years, 43 days) |
First Buddhist senator[1][2] |
Further information: Religious affiliation in the United States House of Representatives |
Representative | Party | District | Term | Notes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Start | End | Length of service (days) | ||||||
Mazie Hirono | Democratic | HI-02 | January 3, 2007 | January 3, 2013 | 2,192 (6 years, 0 days) |
One of the first two Buddhists in Congress. Retired to run successfully for U.S. Senator from Hawaii.[1][2] | ||
Hank Johnson | Democratic | GA-04 | January 3, 2007 | Incumbent | 6,252 (17 years, 43 days) |
One of the first two Buddhists in Congress[3] | ||
Colleen Hanabusa | Democratic | HI-01 | January 3, 2011 | January 3, 2015 | 1,461 (4 years, 0 days) |
Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senator from Hawaii.[4] | ||
November 14, 2016 | January 3, 2019 | 779 (2 years, 50 days) |
Elected in special election to succeed Mark Takai, who died in office Retired to run unsuccessfully for governor of Hawaii |