According to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), Latino candidates continued to make political progress in state and local races across the country this mid-term election season.
The number of Latino State Senators increased from 64 to 66. Several of these candidates successfully ran in districts which do not have Latino majorities.
In State House across the U.S. the number of Latinos in lower chambers remained unchanged, the net losses of Latino Democrats and an Independent were offset by net gains of Latino Republicans. The Texas State House experienced the largest gain (5).
Latino candidates in several state and local offices continue to reach new milestones:
• In New York, State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat not only becomes the first Dominican-
American in the State Senate, but also the first nationwide.
• In Maryland, State Delegate Víctor Ramírez becomes the first Salvadoran-American in the State
Senate.
• In Texas, Former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Elba García becomes the first Latina Commissioner
on the Dallas County Commissioners Court.
• In Providence, Rhode Island, Dominican-American lawyer Angel Tavares becomes the first
Latino mayor to lead the state’s capital city.
“Latinos are proving that they can attract votes from diverse constituencies, and govern across all ethnicities,” said NALEO Educational Fund Executive Director Arturo Vargas.
