WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The number of women serving in the U.S. Congress will increase next year thanks to wins in Tuesday's national elections.
There are currently 62 female members in the House -- including two non-voting delegates -- with three retiring at the end of the current session, but at least eight new female members were elected this week.
That number could even be higher pending the outcome of still undecided races.
In the Senate, all three of the female incumbents running for re-election won Tuesday, although five female candidates running for the body were defeated.
In terms of minority representation, three new Democrats will join the Congressional Black Caucus, bringing their total to 40.
Membership in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which consists of Latino Democrats, will increase by a single member, John Salazar of Colorado.
Bobby Jindal, R-La., will come into the House in January as the only Indian-American serving in the body.
Among the new senators will be Illinois Democrat Barack Obama, who is black. He will be joined by freshman senators and Hispanics Salazar and Mel Martinez, R-Fla.
