Happy Self-Care Day! Have you ever wondered what trailblazing women in politics do for…
Four Trailblazing Hispanic Women in Politics You Should Know About
BLFF Team
| Oct 4, 2022
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! During the 2022 primaries, there was a record number (six) of Latina women running for governor. And currently, there is a record number of Latina women running for the U.S. House. If any of these women running for the U.S. House win their races, they will make history as the first Latina woman to represent their respective state in Congress. As we await this potential history-making election, GOTB is highlighting four trailblazing Latina women who have paved the way in politics.
Catherine Cortez Masto is the first Latina and first woman from Nevada to be elected to the U.S. Senate.
Before Senator Cortez Masto was elected in 2017, she was the second woman to serve as the Attorney General of Nevada; she was the 32nd person to hold the position. Before her political career, Senator Cortez Masto worked as a civil attorney in Las Vegas and a criminal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.
Heather Fargo is the first Latina ever to become mayor of a major U.S. City.
Fargo was elected Mayor of Sacramento in November 2000 and served in the position until December 2008. Before becoming mayor, Fargo was elected to the Sacramento City Council in 1989. During her mayoral tenure, Fargo was a strong proponent of gun control and environmentalism. Fargo is also an advocate for women in politics and continues to encourage women to run for office.
Susana Martinez is the first Latina and first woman of color to serve as Governor in the United States.
Martinez was elected Governor of New Mexico in 2011, and she served in the position until 2019. As two-term governor, she prioritized keeping communities safe, ensuring all students receive a high-quality education, and diversifying and growing the state’s economy. Prior to her governorship, Martinez served three terms as a district attorney from 1997 until 2011.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is the first Cuban and Latina woman ever to be elected to Congress.
Ros-Lehtinen is also the first Republican woman to represent Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was elected to Congress in 1989 as the representative for Florida’s 27th congressional district, and she served in this position until her retirement in 2019. At the end of her tenure, Ros-Lehtinen was the most senior U.S. Representative from Florida.
