Record number of Latinos set to join the Senate as the House loses a few Hispanic seats

While Hispanic representation in the House will decrease slightly, there are several history-making Latino lawmakers, including in Arizona and Ohio, who will be part of next year's Congress.

The number of Latinos in the Senate will hit a record next year, going from five to seven, thanks to the victories of Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Republican business owner Bernie Moreno in Ohio.

The 119th Congress will also include a few other history-making Latino lawmakers in the House, even though Hispanic representation in that chamber will decrease slightly, from 48 to 45.

A new analysis from the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) assessing Latino gains and losses in Congress shows that Hispanic candidates successfully pursued congressional seats in 12 states in the 2024 election — achieving important milestones in New Jersey, Washington, Colorado and California, as well as in Arizona and Ohio.

The partisan composition of the Latino senators did not change dramatically, according to the analysis. It went from three Democrats and two Republicans to four Democrats and three Republicans. Similarly, in the House, the partisan composition of Latino members of Congress went from 35 Democrats and 13 Republicans to 36 Democrats and nine Republicans.

In the U.S. Senate, incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was re-elected, while fellow incumbents Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif.; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M.; and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., were not up for re-election.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latinos-senate-gains-house-losses-election-rcna181333

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