NALEO Educational Fund

For Immediate Release
November 8, 2018

Contact:
Amanda Bosquez
Paula Valle Castanon

Strong Latino Voter Turnout Nationwide Helps Latino Candidates Make History in Election 2018

Latinos serving in U.S. House of Representatives will make history, increasing from 34 to 37 in the 116th Congress

Latino elected officials serving in statewide office will also reach new record, growing from 13 to 14 post-Election 2018

Washington D.C. – The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund today released its analysis assessing Latino gains in Congress and statewide office in 2018. A full roster of Latinos that will serve at these levels of office (including a breakdown by state and political party) is available here.

“Despite being ignored yet again by candidates and campaigns this year, Latino voters stepped up and made their voices heard in Election 2018,” stated Arturo Vargas, NALEO Educational Fund chief executive officer. “A strong showing from Latino voters in Florida, Nevada and Texas helped Latino candidates secure milestone victories.”

As candidates, Latino leaders sought positions in Congress, statewide offices, and state legislatures across the nation in Election 2018. Pursuing top offices in 36 states, Latino candidates ran in both traditional Latino population centers, and in regions with emerging Latino communities such as the Plains States, the Midwest, the Deep South, and New England.

Following Election 2018, the 116th Congress will feature the largest class of Latinos in history. The U.S. House of Representatives will feature three more Latino members than in the 115th Congress, increasing from 34 to 37.* In Congress’ upper chamber, four Latinos will continue to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Key Findings from NALEO Educational Fund’s post-election analysis include:

  •  Latinos in the U.S. Senate Post-Election 2018:

    o The number of Latinos serving in the U.S. Senate will remain at four. Both incumbent U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) won their re-election bids. They will return to join current Latino U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) in Congress’ upper chamber .

  •  Latinos in U.S. House of Representatives Post-Election 2018:

o Class: The number of Latinos serving in the U.S. House of Representatives will reach a historic high, increasing from 34 to 37.*

o Party Breakdown: Following Election 2018, 32 Democrats and five Republicans will serve as Members of Congress (up from 27 Democrats and seven Republicans).

o Gender: The number of Latinas serving in the U.S. House of Representatives will increase by three (25 Males and 12 Females) from the previous Congress (25 Males and nine Females). Election 2018 also featured the election of the first two Latinas to represent Texas in Congress.

o New Faces: There will be nine new faces when the U.S. House of Representatives gets sworn-in in the new year, including five new Latinas:


  •  CA-49: Mike Levin (D)

  • FL-26: Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D)

  •  IL-4: Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia (D)

  •  NM-2: Xochitl Torres Small (D) – the first woman elected to represent the district

  •  NY-14: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) – youngest person elected to Congress

  •  NY-19: Antonio Delgado (D)

  •  OH-16: Anthony Gonzalez (R) – first Latino Member of the House from Ohio

  •  TX-16: Veronica Escobar (D) – one of first two Latinas in House from Texas

  •  TX-29: Sylvia Garcia (D) – Former NALEO President and one of first two Latinas in House from Texas

  • Latinos in Statewide Office:

o Class: Following Election 2018, the number of Latinos in statewide office will increase from 13 to 14.* This is a historic high for Latinos.

o Party Breakdown: There will be an increase in the number of Latino Democrats serving in statewide office, increasing from six to 11. Latino Republicans serving in statewide office will decline, shifting from seven to three post-election.

o Gender: The number of Latinas serving in statewide office will increase by one (Nine Males and five Females).

o New Faces:

  •  NM: Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor (D)

  • CA: Ricardo Lara, Insurance Commissioner (D)

  •  FL: Jeanette Nuñez, Lieutenant Governor (R) – first Latina to serve in this position in the state

  •  NM: Howie Morales, Lieutenant Governor (D)

  •  NM: Brian Colón, State Auditor (D)

  •  NM: Stephanie Garcia Richard, Commissioner of Public Lands (D)

Vargas went on to say, “Latino candidates continue to demonstrate their ability to successfully run for office across all fifty states, winning bids in areas with both Latino population centers and without. There is no such thing as a Latino or non-Latino district anymore, with Latinos once again bringing the expertise and skill needed to build support from a broad coalition of Americans in Election 2018.”

A full roster of Latinos that will serve in the 116th Congress and statewide office is available here. The roster includes a breakdown of Congressional representation gains/losses by state, party and district.

*Note: Election results are based on those published by states or media sources as of the writing of this release and are not yet official.

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About NALEO Educational Fund

NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading non-profit, non-partisan organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.

For Immediate Release
November 14, 2018

Contact:
Amanda Bosquez
Paula Valle Castanon 

Latinos Successfully Pursue State Legislative Office Nationwide in Election 2018

Following Election 2018, Latinos will serve in 26 State Senates and 34 State lower houses

A total of 326* Latinos will serve in State Legislatures across the country, including historic numbers in Colorado, Delaware, Washington and Wisconsin

Washington D.C. – The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund today released its analysis assessing Latino gains in state legislatures following Election 2018. A full analysis of Latinos that will serve in State Senates and State lower houses (including a breakdown by state and political party) is available here.

“Latinos made history, both as voters and candidates in Election 2018,” stated Arturo Vargas, NALEO Educational Fund chief executive officer. “Once again, Latino candidates demonstrated that they can successfully run for state legislative seats across the country, winning races in areas with both Latino population centers and without. There is no such thing as a Latino or non-Latino district anymore, with Latinos once again bringing the expertise and skills needed to secure support from a broad coalition of Americans in Election 2018.”

As candidates, Latino leaders sought positions in state legislatures across the nation in Election 2018. Pursuing seats in 26 State Senates and 34 State lower houses, Latino candidates ran in both traditional Latino population centers, and in regions with emerging Latino communities such as the Plains States, the Midwest, the Deep South, and New England.

Key Findings from NALEO Educational Fund’s post-election analysis include:

  •  Latinos in the State Senates Post-Election 2018:

o Class: The number of Latinos serving in State Senates is set to decrease by two following Election 2018. At least 80 Latinos* will serve in State Senates, with the possibility of more if Latinos end up filling the seats being vacated by Latino State Senators that won their bids for Congress and Statewide office this year. These opportunities include the seats being vacated by Ricardo Lara (who won his bid for California Insurance Commissioner), Howie Morales (who successfully ran for New Mexico Lt. Governor), and Sylvia Garcia (who is one of the first two Latinas elected to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas).

o Party Affiliation: Following Election 2018, 73 Democrats will serve in State Senates, up from 71. Republicans in the upper chamber of State Legislatures will experience a decline, shifting from 11 to seven.

o Gender: There will be shift in gender when the State Senates reconvene in the new year. Latinas made gains in Election 2018, with 36 elected to serve in State Senates, up from 32.

o Historical Significance: A record number (2) of Latinos will serve in the Delaware State Senate post-Election 2018.

  •  Latinos in U.S. House of Representatives Post-Election 2018:

o Class: The number of Latinos serving in State lower houses will decrease by one, down to 246.* This number could increase by one if Sabrina Cervantes is successful in her race for California  Assembly District 60, which has yet to be decided.

o Party Breakdown: Following Election 2018, 212 Democrats and 34 Republicans will serve in the lower house of State Legislatures (shifting from 204 Democrats and 43 Republicans).* This party affiliation tally could shift based on the outcome of Cervantes’ race for California Assembly, and the outcome of the New Mexico 63rd House Contest. The latter features two Latino candidates, Martin Ruben Zamora (R, who has a narrow lead) and George Dodge, Jr. (D).

o Gender: The number of Latinas serving in State lower houses will increase by five (143 Males and 103 Females; with the possibility of 104 Females if Cervantes wins her race) from prior to Election 2018 (149 Males and 98 Females).

o Historical Significance: A record number of Latinos will serve in the State lower houses of Colorado, Washington and Wisconsin.

A full overview of Latinos that will serve in state legislatures nationwide is available here. The analysis includes a breakdown of Latino representation gains/losses in State Senates and State lower houses by state and party.

*Note: Election results are based on those published by states or media sources as of the writing of this release and are not yet official. As of this writing, in the California Assembly District 60 contest, Sabrina Cervantes (D) has an extremely narrow deficit in her race against her opponent. Should she prevail, the number of Latinos in state legislatures after Election 2018 would be 247. In addition, in the New Mexico 63rd House contest, Martin Ruben Zamora (R) has a narrow lead over George Dodge, Jr. (D). Because both candidates are Latino, a change in the ultimate outcome of this race would not affect the total number of Latinos in state legislatures after Election 2018, but it would affect the partisan composition.

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About NALEO Educational Fund

NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading non-profit, non-partisan organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.