Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) is the only sitting Member of Congress who is openly nonreligious. However, Rep. Huffman says at least 10 of his colleagues on Capitol Hill are also “religious seekers” like him. In an interview with the San Fransico Chronicle, Rep. Huffman said:
… He said there are probably at least 10 other “seekers” like him in the House. Just before we spoke, one stopped Huffman on the floor of the House and said he, too, was thinking of coming out of the religious closet. “Knowing this person’s district,” Huffman said and laughed, “I told them I didn’t think it was a good idea.”
While the number of Americans who say they would vote for an atheist presidential candidate has been increasing for years, there is still a persistent stigma against the nonreligious which creates a de facto religious test for public office. The only way to do away with this de facto religious test is for nontheists to run openly for office and for more nontheistic lawmakers who are currently serving to open up about their lack of religion.
