Yassamin Ansari’s election to the U.S. House of Representatives for Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District marks a significant milestone for the representation of secular individuals and the principle of separation between church and state. As an openly agnostic individual, Ansari joins a small but growing cohort of non-religious lawmakers reflecting the increasing diversity of non-religious beliefs among Americans.
The religious composition of the 119th Congress remains predominantly Christian, with approximately 87% identifying as such according to Pew Research Center, despite nearly 28% of Americans identifying as religiously unaffiliated, which includes humanists, atheists, agnostics, or those with no particular religious affiliation.
Ansari’s presence in Congress helps bridge this representational gap, offering a voice to millions of secular Americans whose perspectives have historically been underrepresented in the federal legislature.
Ansari’s agnosticism is deeply rooted in her family history, with her grandparents fleeing Iran after the revolution of 1979. She says her family generally left religious practice behind in the trauma. “I actually consider myself agnostic… I respect everyone’s faith, but I do not personally practice one,” she is quoted from her campaign website.
The importance of Ansari’s election extends beyond mere representation—it challenges the lingering stigma associated with non-religious identities in American politics. Historically, politicians have been hesitant to openly identify as humanist, atheist, or agnostic due to potential political backlash.
Ansari’s openness about her agnosticism may encourage greater acceptance and normalization of secular identities within the political arena. Ansari is joined by Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-2) as the only other Member of Congress who openly identifies as nonreligious; incoming Rep. Emily Randall (WA-6) identifies her religious belief as “none,” while Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8) has identified as both “emphatically Jewish” and “humanist.”
Ron Millar, Political Manager for the Center for Freethought Equality (the political advocacy arm of the American Humanist Association), says that he encouraged Ansari to go public with her nonreligious beliefs at a reception in mid-November after her election. After speaking with Ansari and telling her more about the CFE, Millar says that Ansari told him she identified as agnostic.
“She seemed excited to hear about our work. I told her that CQ would be reaching out to her very soon for information and one of the questions would be about religion. I urged her to write in agnostic, because it would not be one of the options given by CQ—and apparently she did,” Millar said. “I am delighted that Yassamin Ansari decided to complete the CQ questionnaire and publicly identify with our community.”
AHA Executive Director Fish Stark commented, “Being on Capitol Hill when we inaugurated a record three secular Members of Congress was a historic moment. It was especially amazing to be there with Ron Millar from our Center for Freethought Equality, because none of this—the growth of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, our record level of representation in the House—would have happened without his dogged advocacy over the years. Congress should look like America—and that includes representation of secular Americans. It’s a great thing that more Members feel confident being open about their true beliefs.”
You can learn more about the CFE and its work, as well as become a member, here.
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