Latino Political Representation in State Legislatures
Looking back and forward: 1950-2011

By John P. Schmal
Published on LatinoLA: January 2, 2011

Latino Political Representation in State Legislatures

Introduction
The political representation of Latinos in American State Legislatures from 1950 to 2011 is a story of both political and demographic evolution. From a point of virtually no representation in 1950 to the most recent elections of 2010, Latinos have steadily gained representation in a wide range of states across the country. Their progress in some states has been dramatic and impressive, while in other states it has been slow, erratic and inconsistent. The more recent gains of the last three decades are clear indicators of the growth of the Latino population in many states beyond its so-called "traditional homeland" in the Southwestern United States. Some of the highlights of the Latino struggle for political representation are discussed below.

Restrictions on the Latino Vote
In 1901, the Texas Legislature passed a poll tax, requiring voters to pay $1.75 at the voting booth. In November 1902, Texas voters ratified the poll tax by a two-to-one margin. For the next six decades, the poll tax would be very effective in keeping poor Latinos from participating in the electoral process.

In addition to the poll tax, the primary means of limiting minority representation in Texas, California and other states was the process of gerrymandering. In many parts of the U.S., state legislatures would divide a county or city into oddly shaped representational districts to give political advantage to one group or another in elections. Gerrymandering resulted in voter dilution, in which the political representation of a unified minority was diminished or altogether obstructed. The end result was that even districts containing a majority of Latinos in some parts of the United States were unable to elect Hispanic representatives for many decades.

A New Breed
In the devastation and uncertainty of World War II (1939-1945), a new breed of Latinos was created. Fighting alongside their Anglo brothers, hundreds of thousands of young Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans had taken part in the battle against the tyranny and oppression of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. With the end of the war, these young veterans came home to a state where their rights as citizens were not always recognized and – in some cases – blatantly violated. These proud young veterans, having fought to defend their native land, believed it was time to assert their rights as American citizens.

But added to that pride was the reward that survivors were given for their wartime service. The G.I. Bill made it possible for thousands of Latino veterans to attend college and make a better life for themselves. The G.I. Bill Act of June 22, 1944 – or the Servicemen's Readjustment Act – put higher education within the reach of thousands of minority veterans. The Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952 provided similar privileges to Korean War veterans.

Over the next decade, Latino veterans attended local and nationwide colleges and universities to obtain college degrees. In many cases, these vets were the first members of their families to receive a higher education. Armed with the weapon of education, many of these veterans became the Chicano leaders of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

--- 1952: 22 Hispanic State Legislators ---
In 1952, 22 Hispanic representatives were serving as legislators in state houses in the following four states: New Mexico (19 legislators), Arizona (one legislator), Colorado (1) and Texas (1). It is not surprising that New Mexico had a considerable number of Latino legislators at this time because a significant number of the state's inhabitants were descended from the pre-1848 population that had lived in the area since the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries. In the case of Texas, the lone Latino, Arnold J. Vale, representing the 74th District (Rio Grande, Starr County) served in the Texas Legislature from 1937 to 1947 and from 1949 to 1955. He would soon be joined by others.

Hispanic Representation in Texas (1952-1960)
In 1952, Eligio (Kika) de la Garza, a native of Hidalgo County and a World War II veteran, ran for office in the 38th District of Hidalgo County, recently created by the 1951 redistricting process. When Arnold Vale's term expired in 1955, de la Garza would be the only Hispanic legislator in Texas. However, in 1957, Kika was joined by Oscar M. Laurel, a native of Laredo and another World War II veteran. Laurel represented Laredo's 80th District in Webb County and, during his tenure, would also serve as the National President of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

In 1959, Kika de la Garza and Oscar M. Laurel were joined by a third Chicano representative in the Texas House. Mauro Rosas became El Paso's first Tejano representative to Austin during the Twentieth Century. Representing the 105th District, Position 3, Rosas would serve in this capacity for two legislative sessions.

In 1956, Henry Barbosa Gonzalez broke down another barrier to Mexican-American political representation in Texas. Enrique Barbosa González, a native of San Antonio, took office in 1957 as the first Mexican American elected to the Texas Senate in the Twentieth Century. Senator Gonzalez would serve from 1957 to 1961, before moving on to the U.S. Congress in 1962.

The Texas Legislature in the Early 1960s
The 57th Texas Legislative Session marked a turning point for Tejano political representation. From one representative (Arnold J. Vale) in the 52nd Session (starting in January 1951) to the 57th session (starting in January 1961), Hispanic representation increased to seven legislators (one senator and six representatives). While Kika de la Garza (Hidalgo County) and Rosas (El Paso) continued to serve their respective constituencies, four new representatives took their seats in the House:

• Vidal M. Trevino (80th District, Laredo) replaced Representative Oscar Laurel
• John C. Alaniz (68th District, San Antonio) – the first Latino to serve Bexar County
• Rudy Esquivel (68th District, Position 2, San Antonio)
• Raul L. Longoria (38th District, Position 1, Pharr, Hidalgo County)

The representation of Tejanos would continue to increase in the following years. More detailed discussion of the Texas Legislature and elections in the 1960s can be accessed at the following link: http://www.houstonculture.org/hispanic/ ... print.html

--- 1962: 35 Hispanic State Legislators ---
Between 1952 and 1962, the number of Latino representatives in the state legislatures increased from 22 to 35. During this period, the number of Hispanic legislators in New Mexico had increased from 19 to 24, but most impressive was the jump from one state representative to six representatives in the State of Texas (By this time, Henry González had left the Texas Senate for the U.S. Congress.)

Arizona in the 1960s
In Arizona, a large influx of elected Latinos would take place during the 1960s. By 1962 their representation in the Arizona Legislature had already increased to three (from one representative in 1952). During the 1960s, the following Hispanic representatives would take their seats within the Arizona Legislature:

• Emilio V. Carrillo served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1959 to 1961 and 1972 to 1979.
• Ramon Gallego Michelena, State Senator from Santa Cruz County (1961-1964)
• Joe D. Ybarra, Democratic Representative, serving District 14 (Pima County) from 1961 to 1966
• Tony S. Carrillo, Democratic Representative, serving District 2 (Tucson, Pima County) from 1963 to 1968
• David M. Valenzuela, Senator from District 6 (Phoenix, Maricopa County), elected to serve from 1964 to 1966
• Leonard M. Calderon, Jr., Senator from District 10 (Phoenix, Maricopa County) elected to serve in 1965
• Joe Castillo, State Senator from District 7-A (Pima County) elected to serve in 1967
• Tony Abril, Democratic Representative from District 8-G (Maricopa County), served from 1967 to 1970 and 1973 to 1982
• Manuel "Lito" Peña, Jr., Democratic Representative from Phoenix 1967 to 1972 and State Senator from 1972 to 1996

California in the 1960s
In the June 5, 1962 California Primary Election, eleven Chicano candidates ran for office in the California Assembly. However, by the time the votes were tallied from the November 6 General Election, only two men would take their seats in the California Assembly. John Moreno and Philip Soto became the first two Latinos from Los Angeles County to be elected to the California State Legislature in the Twentieth Century. They were also the first Latinos to be elected to serve in the State Assembly since the election of Miguel Estudillo of Riverside County in 1907. The election of these two men set a precedent for a long line of Latino legislators committed to the service of their communities. But progress would be limited and sporadic over the next two decades.

In the 1964 elections, only Philip Soto was left in office. Assemblyman Moreno had been opposed by another Chicano candidate, Dionisio Morales. This contest split the Chicano vote and led to victory in the Democratic Primary by Jack Fenton, effectively ending Moreno's political tenure.

In the 1966 elections, fifteen Chicanos ran for positions on the Assembly and all of them lost. Even, the one Latino incumbent Philip Soto lost his bid for re-election. Another nine Latinos ran for State Senate seats, and all of them lost as well. The result was that the California Legislature – once again – did not have a single Mexican-American in the Assembly or the Senate. Only the election of Alex Garcia to the 40th Assembly District in 1968 brought Latinos back to the California Legislature.

--- 1970: 59 Hispanic State Legislators ---
Between 1962 and 1970, the representation of Latinos in State Legislatures increased from 35 to 59. By this time, California had two Latino legislators and Colorado was experiencing a renewal with four legislators (up from zero in 1962). New Mexico still held the largest number of Latino representatives (36), followed by Texas, which now had an unprecedented 12 representatives in both state houses.

Hispanic Representation in Minnesota
In 1977, Conrado ("Conrad") M. Vega, a native of South Saint Paul, became the first known Hispanic to serve in the Minnesota Legislature. Serving as the Democratic Senator for District 52 (Dakota and Washington counties), Senator Vega was of Mexican ancestry (St. Paul Pioneer Press, June 13, 2004) and had previously worked as a social studies high school teacher. Mr. Vega served Senate District 52 from 1977 to 1982 and Senate District 39 from 1983 to 1986.

Two years after Vega took office, Frank Rodriguez, Sr. became the first known Hispanic to serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives. A native of Sheridan, Wyoming and the son of Mexican immigrants (Union Advocate, July 2, 1979), Mr. Rodriguez served as the Representative for District 67A from 1979 to 1982 and District 65B from 1983 to 1984. A resident of St. Paul, Rodriguez served constituents in Dakota and Ramsey counties.

With the departure of Senator Vega after 1986, Minnesota would have no Hispanic legislators until 1991, when both Carlos Mariani and Edwina Garcia took their respective seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Representation in Kansas
Paul Feleciano, Jr., a native of New York City, was first elected as a Democrat to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1973. He served in the House from 1973 to 1976 and then moved on to the State Senate, where he represented the 28th District (Wichita, Sedgwick County) from 1977 to 2003. Feleciano served two terms as President of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators and in the fall of 2003 resigned his Senate seat to accept an appointment by Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

In 1983, Alfred Ramirez was elected to serve as the Republican Representative of the 40th District (Bonner Springs) in the Kansas House. In 1993, Ramirez moved from the House to the Senate, where he served until 1996. In 1989, George Gomez – an attorney – became the third Hispanic state legislator when he took office as a Democratic Representative of Topeka's District 57 (Shawnee County).

Chicano Representation in the California Legislature (1980-1990)
By 1980, Chicano representation in California had finally gained some traction in spite of its lethargic start in the 1960s. After the November 1980 elections had ended, there were seven Hispanic representatives in both of California's Houses: two senators and five Assemblymen. However, progress towards true representation remained painfully slow and by 1985 there were still only seven Latinos in the state legislature, making up only 6% of the total membership.

Essentially, the Latino community of California remained disenfranchised, when one considers that Hispanics represented 26% of the California population in the 1990 census. However, because many Latinos were foreign-born non-citizens or below the age of 18, they only made up 5% of the California electorate at this time, effectively reducing their influence in electing Latinos to political offices in the State Legislature. The Latino share of the California electorate, however, would increase dramatically to 14% by 1998.

New Jersey – Hispanic Representation in the 1980s
The first Hispanic to serve in the New Jersey Legislature was the Republican Jorge Rod, who was elected to serve the 9th District (Ocean County) in the New Jersey Assembly in 1981. Assemblyman Rod was followed in 1985 by another Latino Republican, Jose Arango, a native of Cuba who was elected to serve Hudson County in the Assembly.

Assemblymen Rod and Arango were followed in 1987 by the first Hispanic Democrat, Robert Menendez, who would serve in the General Assembly from 1987 to 1991 and in the New Jersey Senate from 1991 to 1993, before moving on to the U.S. Congress.

Assemblyman Jorge Rod, a lifelong Republican, lost his party's nomination for re-election in the June 1985 primary after the GOP withdrew its support, apparently because Rod was not voting along party lines. He subsequently made an unsuccessful bid as a Democratic candidate.

--- The 1984 Elections: 120 Hispanic State Legislators ---
Before the November 1984 elections, Hispanics held 111 elective legislative offices at the state level nationwide. After the elections, they had increased this to 120 state posts spread across 19 of the 50 states (Santa Fe New Mexican, Nov. 23, 1984, page 6). The New Mexican explained that a "29 percent increase in voter registration" had most likely contributed to this significant increase in representation.

In New Mexico, Hispanics made a net gain of five in the 112-seat state legislature and thus now comprised 35 percent of the body, approaching parity in a state that was already 37 percent Hispanic. They went from 12 to 13 in the Senate and 22 to 26 in the House. At the same time, Florida's Hispanic representatives in the Florida Legislature increased from three to seven in a single election. The states with the largest number of Latino representatives were:

• New Mexico – 39 legislators
• Texas – 24 legislators
• Arizona – 12 legislators
• Colorado – 8 legislators
• California – 7 legislators
• Florida – 7 legislators
• New York – 7 legislators

In Texas, the number of Hispanics remained at four in the Senate, but dropped from 22 to 20 in the House. During this election, Minnesota lost its lone Hispanic House member (Rodriguez) – who was beaten in the primary – but kept its Hispanic Senator (Vega). Kansas now had three Hispanic representatives and Montana had two. With the election of Jose Lugo as Representative to the 130th District (Bridgeport), Connecticut was now able to boast of one Latino delegate to its state house.

Illinois
In January 1982, a three-judge federal panel in Chicago had ordered revisions in a redistricting plan to rearrange two Senate and three House districts to bring about an increase in Hispanic representation in Illinois (Chicago Daily Herald, January 13, 1982, page 74). As a result, Joseph Berrios was elected as state representative to Chicago's 9th District in 1982 and was re-elected in 1984.

Hispanic Representation in Indiana (1984)
When 24-year-old Jesse Villalpando took office as the Indiana Legislature's first Hispanic and youngest member, he was a third-year law student at Indiana University. Serving as a Democrat for District 12 (Griffith), Villalpando replaced Representative Peter Katie who resigned to become a city judge in January 1984(Logansport Pharos-Tribune, January 05, 1984).

--- 1985: 114 Hispanic State Legislators ---
According to the NALEO Education Fund, in 1985 there were 114 Hispanic state representatives in the United States (81 representatives and 33 senators). The 114 legislators were spread across 14 states, including Connecticut (1), Hawaii (1), Illinois (2), Indiana (1), Kansas (3), Minnesota (1), Montana (2), Pennsylvania (1) and Rhode Island (1). The states with the largest number of Latino legislators were:

• New Mexico – 34 legislators
• Texas – 23 legislators
• Arizona – 12 legislators
• Florida – 7 legislators
• California – 7 legislators
• New York – 7 legislators

Massachusetts - 1988
The 1980 United States census tallied 76,450 Puerto Ricans living in Massachusetts, with 18,899 of this group residing in the City of Boston. With the increasing leverage provided by their growing numbers, Puerto Ricans were fast becoming a respected cultural group within Boston's diverse ethnic mix. This new status provided Nelson Merced, a Puerto Rican, with the incentive to run for elected office. In 1988, Mr. Merced became the first Puerto Rican and Latino elected to statewide office in Massachusetts, when he became the state representative for the 5th Suffolk District (Dudley Square and North Dorchester). Representative Merced served for two terms until 1992.

--- 1990: 128 Hispanic State Legislators ---
According to the NALEO Education Fund, in 1990 there were 128 Hispanic state legislators in the United States (90 representatives and 38 senators). The 128 legislators were spread across 17 states. The states with the largest number of Latino delegates were:

• New Mexico – 38 legislators
• Texas – 27 legislators
• Arizona – 12 legislators
• Colorado – 11 legislators
• Florida – 11 legislators
• New York – 7 legislators
• California – 6 legislators

At this time, approximately four-out-of-ten Hispanics were not U.S. citizens, with 5 million Hispanics ineligible to vote due to non-citizenship. This factor was crucial in explaining why representation parity had not been achieved in most states despite the obvious progress made in the previous few years.

--- 1995: 163 Hispanic State Legislators ---
According to the NALEO Education Fund, there was a dramatic increase in the number of Hispanic State Legislators from 128 in 1990 to 163 in 1995 (115 representatives and 48 senators). The 163 legislators were spread across 21 states. The states with the largest number of Latino delegates were:

• New Mexico – 43 legislators
• Texas – 33 legislators
• Florida – 14 legislators
• California – 14 legislators
• New York – 10 legislators
• Arizona – 9 legislators
• Illinois – 7 legislators
• Connecticut – 7 legislators
• Colorado – 6 legislators

Hispanic Representation in Nevada
Brian Edward Sandoval, a native of California, ran for office in Nevada's Assembly in 1994. He was elected as the Representative of the 25th Legislative District and served from 1994 to 1998 as the second Hispanic member of the Assembly (after Paul Leveaga who served in 1874-1876). Sandoval would also serve as the Nevada Attorney General from 2003 and 2009 and was elected the first Hispanic Governor of Nevada in November 2010.

November 1998 Election
By 1998, the 28 million Latinos in the United States represented 11 percent of the population. However, fewer than half of these Latinos were eligible to vote. After the November 1998 elections, Latinos held seats in 15 state senates and 25 state houses or assemblies, according to the NALEO. In Massachusetts, where there had been no Latinos serving in the State House of Representatives since Nelson Merced in the 1980s, three Latinos were elected to the State Legislature.

Michigan and Wisconsin
In November 1998, Latinos broke new ground in several states that did not have large Latino populations, including Michigan and Wisconsin. A native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Pedro A. Colón was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly to serve the 8th Assembly District. Taking office in 1999, the Milwaukee-educated lawyer became the first Latino elected to the Wisconsin legislature and was re-elected in the next five elections.

In Michigan's 8th District (Wayne), Belda Garza was elected as the first Hispanic Democratic State Representative to the Michigan Legislature after winning an impressive 85.13% of the vote. A native of Mexico City, Mexico, State Representative Garza had come to the U.S. at the age of 8 and grew up in Southwest Detroit. During the same election, Michigan native Valdemar "Valde" Garcia won a seat as a Republican representing central Michigan. In 2001, he moved to the Michigan State Senate, where he still serves.

--- November 2000 Election: 198 Hispanic State Legislators ---
According to the NALEO Education Fund, there was a dramatic increase in the number of Hispanic State Legislators to 198 after the 2000 election. The 198 legislators were spread across 27 states and consisted of 51 State Senators and 147 representatives in the lower houses. The states with the largest number of Latino delegates immediately after the election took place were:

• New Mexico – 44 legislators (15 senators and 29 representatives)
• Texas – 35 legislators (7 senators and 28 representatives)
• California – 27 legislators (7 senators and 20 representatives)
• Florida – 15 legislators (3 senators and 12 representatives)
• New York – 12 legislators (4 senators and 8 representatives)
• Arizona – 13 legislators (4 senators and 9 representatives)
• Colorado – 10 legislators (1 senator and 9 representatives)
• Illinois – 6 legislators (2 senators and 4 representatives)
• Connecticut – 5 legislators
• New Jersey – 5 legislators
• Washington – 3 legislators
• Massachusetts – 3 legislators

Georgia
During the early part of the new millennium, Latino representation made progress in several southern states. In Georgia Sam Zamarripa became the first Latino to serve in the Georgia State Senate, representing the 36th District (Eastern Fulton County). In 2002, Pedro Marin – a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico – became the first Latino ever elected to the Georgia General Assembly, representing District 96 (Gwinnett County). He continues to serve in that capacity.

November 2002
While the general trend of the 2002 elections favored the Republicans, Latino Democrats made a number of gains in several states. For example, José Peralta – a first-generation Dominican American, won election to the New York State Assembly with 74 percent of the vote. Other breakthroughs occurred in Massachusetts where, for the first time, four Latinos were elected to serve in the legislature.

California Representation – 2004
In the 2000 census, the number of Latinos in California reached 10,966,556, representing 32% of the state's total population. Furthermore, the number of total Latino adults was 6,915,731, or 28%. However, the number of Latino registered voters in the State was considerably smaller: 2,471,811 people, or 16.5% of all registered voters. Although voter registration remained a stumbling block to representation in the California legislature, the total number of Latino state legislators had increased from 14 in 1996 to 27 in 2003 (NALEO, 2004 Primary Election Profile, California).

Texas Representation – 2004
The Latino representation in the State of Texas in 2003 was similar to that of California in some ways. The 6,669,666 Latinos living in Texas, representing 32% of the total state population (as with California). Like California, the number of qualified registered Latino voters in Texas was considerably smaller: 2,164,346 Latino registered voters in January 2004 represented only 17.8% of the all registered voters. In spite of this, between 1996 and 2003, the number of Latino state legislators had increased from 33 to 37 (NALEO, 2004 Primary Election Profile, Texas).

Arizona Representation – 2004
In the State of Arizona, the total Latino population in 2000 was 1,295,617, representing 25% of the total state population. There were 304,000 registered voters, or 16% of all registered voters. This population was successful in sending more representatives to the State Legislature, as the number of Arizona state legislators increased from 8 in 1996 to 15 in 2003 (NALEO, 2004 Primary Election Profile, Arizona).

Illinois Representation – 2004
Between 1990 and 2000, the number of Latinos in Illinois grew from 904,446 to 1,530,262, while their share of the population increased from 8% to 12.3% during the same period. However, in 2000, Latino voters accounted for only 4.3% of the state's voters. From 1996 to 2002, there were six Latino state legislators, but in 2003, their numbers increased dramatically to 11.

--- November 2004 Elections: 231 Hispanic State Legislators ---
Analysis of Election 2004 conducted by NALEO Educational Fund indicated that the number of Latinos serving in lower state houses grew from 161 to 171 representatives, an increase of 6%. Latino gains were particularly noticeable in states that were not the traditional centers of Latino population. In Kansas, the number of Latinos in the state House of Representatives doubled from two to four. Latinos also won additional seats in Michigan (1), New Hampshire (1), Rhode Island (1), and Utah (2).

In Utah, Mark Wheatley – a Democrat – won election to the Utah House of Representatives in District 35, which was 15.4% Latino at the time. Another Democrat, Ross Romero won 65% of the vote in District 25. Although District 25 included parts of Salt Lake and Summit counties, both of which had significant Latino populations, Hispanics only made up 5.2% of the district population at that time.

In 2004, the total number of Latino state senators declined from 61 to 60, but the NALEO Educational Fund attributed this to some unique political developments in this election cycle rather than a long-term erosion of Latino political progress. For example, two Latino State Senators did not run for re-election, and no Latinos ran to replace them. In Oregon, State Senator Sal Esquivel (R) decided to run for the Oregon State House of Representatives instead of the State Senate, and emerged victorious in his race.

In state senate races, California Assemblymember Abel Maldonado made history by becoming the first Latino Republican to be elected to the California State Senate. According to Arturo Vargas, Executive Director of the NALEO Educational Fund, Latino state house victories demonstrated that "Latinos are making political progress throughout the nation, particularly in regions with emerging Latino populations. They are not only representing diverse constituents in all corners of the nation, but state legislators also have the power to address the most important issues affecting Latinos, including education, good jobs, and health care."

--- November 2006 Election: 238 Hispanic State Legislators ---
Between the 2004 and 2006 elections, the overall representation of Latinos in state legislatures in creased from 231 to 238 (58 state senators and 180 delegates to lower state houses).

In state lower houses, Latinos saw a very modest overall net gain of two seats, bringing the total number of Latinos in lower state chambers to 180. The Latino Democratic delegations in seven states each gained one additional member: Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada, Texas, and Wyoming. Latino Republican delegations in Idaho, New Mexico and New York also each gained one additional member, including Schoharie County Clerk and former state legislative staff member Peter D. Lopez, who became the first Latino to be elected to the State Assembly from upstate New York (District 127).

The total number of Latino state senators declined from 60 to 58. This decline was due to the fact that three Latino state senators did not run for re-election and no Latinos ran to replace them. The most notable victory was Patricia Torres Ray's election to become the first Latina elected to the Minnesota State Senate.

--- The November 2008 Election: 242 Hispanic State Legislators ---
In the November 2008 elections, the number of Hispanic state legislators increased from 238 (in 2006) to 242 (65 state senators and 177 representatives in lower state houses). Overall, Latinos saw a modest net gain of four State Senate seats, bringing the total number of Latinos to 65. In one of these races, Wyoming gained its first Latino State Senator, with the victory of State Representative Floyd Esquibel in District 8 (Laramie County). Previously, Esquibel – a native of New Mexico – had served as a representative in the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1997 to 2008.

In Tennessee, State Representative Dolores Noguera Gresham – a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marines and the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants – moved from her seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives to become the first Latina in the Tennessee State Senate, representing District 26. The native of San Antonio, Texas was first elected as the representative of Tennessee's 9th District in 2002.

In state lower houses, Latino representation decreased from 190 to 177, in part because of the departure of five Latino state representatives who were unsuccessful in their bids for higher office. However, new milestones were also achieved. For example, Oklahoma's House of Representatives gained its first Latino member, with the victory of Republican Charles Ortega, a third generation resident of southwest Oklahoma, who became the representative of the 52nd District. In addition, the number of Latinos in the Connecticut House of Representatives increased from six to eight.

--- November 2010 Election: 246 Hispanic State Legislators ---
In its analysis of the most recent election results, NALEO noted a small increase in the number of Latino State Legislators from 242 to 246 (66 state senators and 180 delegates in lower state houses). In the November 2010 election, the number of Latino State Senators increased from 64 to 66 – consisting of 60 Democrats and six Republicans.

While the number of Hispanics in lower chambers nationwide - 180 - remained unchanged, the net losses of Latino Democrats and one Independent were offset by net gains made by Latino Republicans. Texas experienced the largest gain (five). Of the 180 Latino State Representatives, 147 will now be Democrats, while 33 will be Republicans.

New milestones were reached in this election, including the election of State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat who became the first Dominican-American elected to the New York State Senate (and the first nationwide). In Maryland, State Delegate Victor Ramirez became the first Salvadoran-American to win a State Senate seat.

In its final analysis of the election, NALEO's press release observed that several of the Latino candidates "successfully ran in districts which do not have Latino majorities, demonstrating that Latinos are able to run in non-Latino districts and can have broad appeal across all ethnicities and communities."

© 2011, John P. Schmal. All rights reserved.

Note: A companion article discussing Latino representation in the U.S. Congress from 1960 to 2011 can be accessed at:

http://latinola.com/story.php?story=9159

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About John P. Schmal :
John P. Schmal is a genealogist, historian and market analyst. He is the author of "The Journey to Latino Political Representation" (Heritage Books).
Author's website

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