Andres Ayala and Art Linares are two of 70 Latino state senators nationwide
Latino candidates made history at state legislatures this Election Day, according to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund. Latinos will serve in the state legislatures of 36 states, including 70 Latino state senators.
In state senate highlights:
- The Connecticut state senate has two Latino legislators for the first time. Democrat State Rep. Andres Ayala won his 23rd district race against Republican Caz Mizera. Republican Art Linares won a state representative seat against Democrat James Crawford, according to an HispanicTips.com article (and first reported here at CTLatinoNews.com).
- In Delaware’s general assembly, youth development program executive and Republican Ernesto Lopez beat Democrat Andrew Staton in the sixth district. Lopez will be the second Latino to serve in the state legislature.
- Florida Democratic State Rep. Darren Soto won against Republican William McBride for the 14th district seat, bringing the total number of Latinos in the state senate to four.
In state houses
Latinos also made gains at the state lower house level, with the total number of Latinos increasing from 190 to 206. States with increased numbers of Latino legislators or notable milestones in the state lower chamber include:
- The Arizona State House of Representatives, which will increase from eight to 13 Latinos
- The California State Assembly will have four more Latinos, with a total of 19.
- Maine elected its first Latino to the state house of representatives, Democrat Lisa Villa, a former flight attendant.
