Latino Candidates Make History On Election Night

The 113^th Congress will feature the largest class of Latinos in the U.S. House of Representatives in our nation's history

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Latino Congressional candidates made history on Election Night, based on analysis of unofficial election results and media reports released by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund.

The 113^th Congress will feature 28 Latinos in the U.S. House of Representatives, making it the largest class in our nation's history.  Nine Latino members of the new Congress will serve in the U.S. House for the first time, including the following individuals:

• In a competitive race for the 36^th congressional district in Calif., Dr. Raul Ruiz (D) unseated U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R), where he will serve as the first Latino to represent the eastern part of Riverside and Coachella Valley area;
• Los Angeles City Councilmember Tony Cardenas (D) will become the first Latino U.S. Representative from Southern Calif.'s San Fernando Valley area (29^th congressional district);
• State Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod (D) in the 35th congressional district of Calif., who unseated U.S. Rep. Joe Baca (D) in a close race;
• Texas State Rep. Joaquin Castro (D), who ran in the San Antonio area (20^th congressional district), will fill the seat vacated by current Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Charles Gonzalez (D);
• In a rematch in the 26^th district of Fl., Joe Garcia (D) defeated U.S. Rep. David Rivera (R);
• Former Bernalillo County Commissioner Michelle Lujan Grisham (D), who won in N.M.,'s Albuquerque area (1^st congressional district), will be the first Latina in the state to serve as U.S. Rep.;
• Attorney Filemon Vela, Jr. (D) won in a newly-created district in South Texas that extends north from the Gulf Coast up to Gonzales County (34th congressional district);
• Calif. State Senator Juan Vargas (D), who was victorious in a district that encompasses parts of three counties in the southernmost part of the state (51^st congressional district); and
• Texas State Rep. Pete Gallego (D), who defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Francisco "Quico" Canseco (R) in an extremely competitive race for Texas' 23^rd congressional district.

Joining the U.S. Senate in the 113^th Congress will be a third Latino. Former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz (R) will join reelected Senator Robert Menendez (D) and Marco Rubio, making history by winning his race against former State Rep. Paul Sadler (D) to become the first Latino to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.

"Latinos played a key role in shaping the nation's political landscape this year," stated Arturo Vargas, executive director of NALEO Educational Fund. "Latinos demonstrated their power as both voters at the ballot box last night, and as congressional candidates that will make history in the 113^th Congress."

A full list of Latino candidates elected to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives for the 113^th Congress is available on our website at http://www.naleo.org/downloads/US_Congress_Table_2012.pdf.

About the NALEO Educational Fund
The NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading nonprofit organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.

Contact: Amanda Bosquez, [email protected]
(202) 546-2536, ext. 12, (361) 548-6989 (cell)

Paula Valle Castanon, [email protected]
(213) 747-7606 ext. 4414, (323) 253-6431 (cell)

SOURCE NALEO Educational Fund