Slew of Latinos Running in California US House Race Bucking Norms

*Why you should read this: Because whenever the word “slew” is used in politics, it’s got to be interesting. Because California’s 34th congressional district has been a “mata” of Latino political strength (think Roybal, Becerra). Because 8 Latinas are in the field of 23 candidates in today’s primary election. VL


By Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News (5 minute read)

A quarter of a century ago, a barrier-breaking Latino left his U.S. House seat and passed the torch to an up and coming Mexican American politician, Xavier Becerra.

Now, Becerra has moved on from the congressional seat he won after the retirement of Edward Roybal and no fewer than 15 Latinos, including eight Latinas, are trying to take his place, along with several other candidates.

Read more stories about California politics in NewsTaco. >> 

On Tuesday, voters in California’s Congressional District 34 in the Los Angeles area, will be faced with a myriad of candidates – a total of 23 and a write-in – for the House seat previously held by Becerra, now the state’s attorney general.

Becerra faced other Latinos when he ran under different district boundaries in 1992, but not as many were vying as are for this rare open seat in a Latino majority congressional district.

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“This race highlights the tremendous interest in elected office by a wide range and wide diversity of younger Latinos politically engaged and well experienced, who make up the crop of the next generation of our civic leaders,” said Matt Barreto, a political scientist at University of California, Los Angeles and co-founder of Latino Decisions polling firm.

Also notable are the number of Latinas running, and that only one candidate currently holds elected office, the perceived frontrunner Jimmy Gomez, a legislator in the California Assembly.

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[Photo courtesy of Boone County Democrats]

 

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