Katherine Schaeffer

Washington, D.C.

Research Analyst at Pew Research Center

research and writing @pewresearch | former newspaper reporter | @gspia and @kentstatemdj grad

Articles

119th Congress: A look at lawmakers who are women of color

1 month ago | pewresearch.org | Katherine Schaeffer

The 119th Congress was sworn in Jan. 3, marking several milestones for women of color. In the Senate, two Black women are serving concurrently for the first time. And in the House, two states and one U.S. territory elected their first Black, Hispanic or Pacific Islander woman lawmaker. Overall, there are 61 women of color in the 119th Congress. Together they represent 24 states as voting members, as well as three territories and the District of Columbia as nonvoting delegates.
119th Congress brings new growth in racial, ethnic diversity to Capitol Hill

Jan 21, 2025 | pewresearch.org | Katherine Schaeffer

Just over a quarter (26%) of voting members in the U.S. Congress identify as a race or ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White, making the 119th Congress the most racially and ethnically diverse to date. In continuation of a long-running trend, this is the eighth Congress to break the record set by the one before it. This analysis builds on earlier Pew Research Center work to analyze the racial and ethnic makeup of the U.S. Congress.
1 in 10 Americans rarely or never drive a car | Pew Research Center

Nov 14, 2024 | pewresearch.org | Katherine Schaeffer

Among U.S. adults, those who live in the Northeast (17%) are more likely than those in the South (10%), West (8%) and Midwest (7%) to be nondrivers.
17 states haven’t had a female U.S. senator, and 18 haven’t had a woman governor

Nov 1, 2024 | pewresearch.org | Katherine Schaeffer

If Kamala Harris wins the presidency this November, she will be the first woman ever elected to the highest political office of the United States. There could also be similar firsts in political contests around the country: Five races for U.S. Senate and two for governor feature a major-party nominee who, if elected, would be the first woman in their state to hold the office. And in Minnesota, a woman will ascend to the governorship for the first time if current Gov.
Prices up across US metros, but in some more than others | Pew Research Center

Oct 7, 2024 | pewresearch.org | Drew DeSilver |Katherine Schaeffer

Inflation in the U.S. is down significantly from its recent highs. But actual prices remain elevated and are likely to stay that way.
On Israel-Hamas war, slightly more Americans now say US should help diplomatically| Pew Research Center

Oct 1, 2024 | pewresearch.org | Katherine Schaeffer

In the year since Hamas attacked Israel, and Israel responded by invading Gaza, U.S. public opinion on the war shifted modestly.
Key facts about public school teachers in the U.S.

Sep 24, 2024 | pewresearch.org | Katherine Schaeffer

U.S. public school teachers have spent 2024 in the spotlight. The Democratic vice presidential nominee, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, has highlighted his previous career as a high school teacher and football coach. And a congressional hearing in June focused on multiple “crises” facing public school teachers, including low pay and overwork. Here are some key facts about the 3.8 million public school teachers who work in America’s classrooms.
1 in 10 eligible voters in the U.S. are naturalized citizens

Sep 19, 2024 | pewresearch.org | Katherine Schaeffer

More immigrants than ever before call the United States home. Many of them have become U.S. citizens through naturalization, making them eligible to vote in November’s presidential election. In fact, naturalized citizens’ numbers are growing as the federal government processes citizenship applications at its fastest rate in years. Here’s a closer look at the nearly 24 million immigrant adults who are naturalized citizens, according to a Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.
Pew Research Center’s tips for journalists covering polls - during election season and beyond

Sep 11, 2024 | pewresearch.org | Scott Keeter |Katherine Schaeffer

We’re in the thick of election season and political polls are everywhere, with good reason. Surveys can give insights into more than just the presidential horse race. They can tell us how the public feels about specific issues, give us a sense of people’s political priorities, and more. A well-designed poll gives everyone in the population an equal voice, providing information that isn’t available anywhere else.
Most U.S. vice presidents in recent decades have sought the presidency, but relatively few have won

Aug 1, 2024 | pewresearch.org | Katherine Schaeffer

Vice President Kamala Harris has launched her bid for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination. While most U.S. vice presidents in recent decades have sought the presidency, relatively few of them have won. Kamala Harris’ announcement that she would run for president made us wonder how many vice presidents in the United States have ultimately gone on to become president. We conducted this analysis to look at past vice presidents who ran for the top job and how often they won.