Because Of This Republican, Congressional GOP Won't Be Entirely Christian

When former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) lost his primary race earlier this year, it looked like congressional Republicans could be left with no members who identify with religions other than Christianity.

But Cantor, who is Jewish, was replaced Tuesday by New York state Sen. Lee Zeldin, a Republican who defeated Rep. Timothy Bishop (D) in the state's Long Island-based 1st District. Zeldin is also Jewish.

Zeldin beat Bishop by more than 9 percentage points in a district that the Democrat had represented since 2002.

Nearly all the religious diversity in the 113th Congress was on the Democratic side of the aisle, according to the Pew Research Center. The Democratic congressional caucus included 32 Jews, three Buddhists, two Muslims, one Unitarian Universalist and one Hindu member, as well as one congresswoman -- Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) -- who describes her religion as "none."

Zeldin could not be reached for comment on his victory.