The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Latino membership organization in the United States, hailed the stunning defeat of Arizona Senator Russell Pearce in a recall election that pitted his extremist anti-immigrant record against the moderate civil tone of his opponent Jerry Lewis. Pearce becomes the first senate president of any state to lose a recall election and must step down immediately once the election results become official.

“Mesa voters decided they have had enough of the anti-immigrant vitriol that Pearce used to create divisiveness throughout Arizona and the rest of the nation,” stated LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “This historic recall along with the defeat of Sharon Angle in Nevada in 2010 should be a clear signal to unscrupulous politicians across the county that immigrant bashing will not help you get elected.”