NALEO: ‘Strong Latino Voter Turnout Nationwide Helps Latino Candidates Make History in Election 2018’

By:
Nov 7, 2018
7:37 PM
Originally published at NALEO

On Wednesday evening, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund shared the following media release: 

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 below.

“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 two more Latino members than in the 115th Congress, increasing from 34 to 36 (with the possibility of 37 if Xochitl Torres Small is declared the winner in yet to be decided close contest for NM-2).* 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:
    • 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:
    • Class: The number of Latinos serving in the U.S. House of Representatives will reach a historic high, increasing from 34 to 36 (with the possibility of 37 if Xochitl Torres Small is declared the winner in the yet to be decided close contest for NM-2).*
    • Party Breakdown:  Following Election 2018, 31 Democrats and five Republicans will serve as Members of Congress (up from 27 Democrats and seven Republicans).
    • Gender:  The number of Latinas serving in the U.S. House of Representatives will increase by 2 (25 Males and 11 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.
    • New Faces:  There will be eight new faces when the U.S. House of Representatives gets sworn-in in the new year, including four new Latinas:
      • CA-49:  Mike Levin (D)
      • FL-26:  Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D)
      • IL-4:  Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia (D)
      • 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:
    • Class: Following Election 2018, the number of Latinos in statewide office will increase from 13 to 14.* This is a historic high for Latinos.
    • 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.
    • Gender: The number of Latinas serving in statewide office will increase by one (nine men and five women).
    • 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 added, “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.”

*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.

UPDATE, November 7, 2018, 9:11pmET: Xochitl Torres Small has won the race in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional district.

 

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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.