In the News

Cincuenta años atrás, los entonces cinco miembros latinos de la Legislatura de California en Sacramento crearon su grupo parlamentario. No había entre ellos ninguna mujer. Pero el grupo creció, tomó conciencia, se diversificó. La membrecía se extendió, su influencia creció y sus raíces se profundizaron.

Hoy, como uno de los grupos más poderosos en la vida política californiana, el Caucus Legislativo Latino se prepara para festejar su medio siglo de acción y anunciar su nueva agenda legislativa para el próximo período, lo que probablemente hará el 28 de este mes. 

En 1973 se fundó el Caucus Legislativo Latino de California con el objetivo de promover y luchar por los intereses educativos, sociales, políticos y culturales de la comunidad latina en el estado. La senadora estatal Monique Limón afirma que “una de las cosas más difíciles ha sido que, al principio, hace 50 años, no teníamos tantos miembros de la bancada latina aquí en el estado de California”, aunque el panorama ha cambiado en este tiempo.

"A punto de cumplir cinco décadas de haberse creado la bancada o caucus latino de la legislatura de California, alcanzó un número récord de miembros en su mayoría mujeres latinas.

Al mismo tiempo dos legisladoras latinas del sur del estado se convirtieron en las nuevas líderes del caucus latino de la legislatura estatal.

La asambleísta de Riverside, Sabrina Cervantes y la senadora de Long Beach, Lena González prestaron juramento este mes como presidenta y vicepresidenta de la bancada latina legislativa de California por un periodo de dos años."

By: Matthew Miranda

Latinos, mostly Democrats, continue to make gains in the Legislature, pushing them closer to equal representation with California’s population.

With midterm results finalizing, the Legislature is on track for its largest class of Latinos in history, increasing from 32 to 39 lawmakers. All but five of them are Democrats.

Latinos will now make up 32.5% of the California Legislature, which consists of 80 Assembly seats and 40 Senate seats.

Assembly member Sabrina Cervantes, D-Riverside, will be the new chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus.

The lawmaker is a trailblazer in the California Legislature. She is the first open LGBTQ female, first Latina millennial, and first Inland Empire lawmaker to chair the caucus.

Assembly member Sabrina Cervantes, D-Riverside, will be the new chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus.

The lawmaker is a trailblazer in the California Legislature. She is the first open LGBTQ female, first Latina millennial, and first Inland Empire lawmaker to chair the caucus.

By: Kim Bojorquez 

At a small gathering in mid-June, Monse Villarreal celebrated her college graduation at her family’s Sacramento home. The graduation ceremony had gone virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the first person in her household to graduate from college, it was important for the 22-year-old to mark the milestone with her loved ones.

But more than two weeks after the gathering, her grandmother, Hermelinda Ruiz, had trouble breathing and chest pain.

By: Andre Torrez

SAN FRANCISCO - California Latino Legislative Caucus on Friday urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to prioritize state farmworkers in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available.

By: Kim Bojórquez

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, announced a new initiative Friday with a “laser focus” to address economic and educational disparities impacting Latinas, who represent one in every five Californians.

The “Unseen Latinas Initiative,” an effort by the California Latino Legislative Caucus led by Gonzalez, is a two-year initiative that is planned to lead to solutions to address the opportunity gaps Hispanic women face.