62 Latino State Senators Offer Fresh Perspectives
By Raisa Camargo, Voxxi
Incoming Latino state senators are a new addition to the post-election’s landscape.
From across the country, Latinos were elected to serve as state senators in 70 districts, according to a recent report by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). It’s an increase from three Latinos serving in state senate districts since 2010.
The majority of the state senators also affiliate as Democrats. According to NALEO, a total of 62 Latino state senators are Democrats versus eight who are Republican.
“Latinos played a key role in shaping the nation’s political landscape this year,” stated Arturo Vargas, executive director of NALEO.
Fresh perspectives in the party’s platform
Conn. State Representative Andres Ayala (D). Incoming Latino state senators are a new addition to the post-election’s landscape. (Photo/ House Dems.ct)
In some of these tight races, Latino candidates were instrumental in defeating their challengers for a myriad of factors including the surge of the Hispanic population. Some of the candidates also ran in favorable districts that leaned in their party’s favor.
For instance, two Latino legislators for the first time will serve as State representatives in Connecticut including Andres Ayala (D), who won his 23rd district race against Caz Mizera (R). Ayala stressed economic development and improving education during his campaign platform.
He also swept his challengers during the primaries, although the majority of the district’s population outnumbers Republicans.
Ayala received 2,189 votes and Mizera got 310.
In the 33rd district, a young Cuban American and business owner Art Linares (R) emerged victorious in a close contest with State Representative James Crawford (D). Linares said he felt inspired to run after he volunteered for Sen. Rubio in Washington D.C. and gained experience in public service.
His parents are also exiles from Cuba and he is currently the youngest state senator in Connecticut’s history at 24 years of age. Part of his platform focused on bipartisan collaboration.
“End the gridlock and work together across the aisle to get things done. I think that’s what people want right now,” stated Linares. “They’re tired of this being about winning and losing and politics. This isn’t what this is about. It’s about helping real people solve real problems and that means collaborating.”
Districts favorable for Latinos and party affiliation
Del. sixth district rep. Ernesto Lopez (R). Incoming Latino state senators are a new addition to the post-election’s landscape. (Photo/ Lopez for Senate 2012)
In the Delaware State Legislature, youth development program executive Ernesto Lopez (R) was successful in his race against business owner Andrew Staton (D) in the sixth district. Lopez will be the second Latino to serve in the Delaware state legislature.
Lopez brought a different tone to the Republican platform considering that moderate Republican leaders endorsed him over his Tea Party challenger Glen Urquhart during the primaries.
Fla. State Representative Darren Soto (D) won his race against attorney William McBride (R) for the 14th district seat, bringing the total number of Latino state senators to four.
Soto represented a heavy Hispanic district in Central Florida as the former state representative of district 49. Consequently, his father is also Puerto Rican.
He told PBS that on the local level they were working extensively to get Obama reelected.
“We’re there to turn out Democrats, to convince independents, and even pull some of the soft R’s…” Soto said. “I’m everything to everybody all the time.”
Latino state senators play a role in local politics
It also mirrors an echoing call for a distinct experience that many have suggested is absent in local and national politics. Take for instance, Irene Aguilar, mother of three, who ran in Colorado’s 32ND district within the city bounds of Denver.
Considering that federal regulation of in-state tuition for undocumented students remains virtually out of bounds, Aguilar along with several other Latino state senators across the country have actively pushed for similar alternatives.
Aguilar is advocating for Senate Bill 015, which would provide a middle ground between in-state tuition and out-of-state tuition for individuals who qualify, including undocumented students.
Aguilar also noted the district she represents is emblematic of “Colorado’s changing complexion.” She won her seat by a whopping 69.8 percent to her GOP challenger Roger Logan, who garnered 30 percent of the votes.
This article was first published in Voxxi.
Raisa Camargo is a staff writer at Voxxi.
[Photo by House Dems.ct]