7 Latina Firsts in Recent Politics

Right now, the country is more divided than ever, and putting our trust in the government seems impossible at times. But in the darkness we seem to be plunged in, there are rays of sparkling light that signal that all hope is not lost.

The election this past Tuesday, proved to signal that there’s still hope for us to have a political infrastructure that’s more representative of the country we live in. That night we saw a win for diversity and inclusion – a far cry from the alt-right tones that haven’t been strongly condemned by the president. Four transgender candidates won their races in California, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Minnesota. Charlotte, North Carolina elected its first Black woman mayor, Helena, Montana also elected its first Black mayor. And the night also had some firsts for Latinas; Virginia elected its first Latina delegates.

In honor of the Latinas who have made waves in politics, we’re looking at the women who recently have been showing that there is nothing they’re incapable of. Hopefully, it is a sign of more awesomeness to come. 

Elizabeth Guzman

Virginia just voted in their first two ever Latina State Representatives in their state's history. Democrats Elizabeth Guzman and Hala Ayala both defeated Republican incumbents tonight. #HistoricNight pic.twitter.com/hq1plniVBz

— Irvin Camacho (@IrvinCamachoAR) November 8, 2017

Elizabeth Guzman is one of two women to be the first Latinas elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. The Peruvian-American was part of a Democratic sweep in the state this past Tuesday.

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Hala Ayala

Hala Ayala is the other Latina who was the among the first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. Ayala also helped organize the state for the Women’s March on Washington.

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Diane Rodriguez

🇪🇨 DIANE RODRÍGUEZ 🏳️‍🌈

✔️ En 2017 fue elegida como miembro de la Asamblea Nacional de Ecuador, sentando precedente al ser una de las pocas mujeres trans del mundo en ocupar un cargo público. Su lucha se basa en defender los derechos de la comunidad LGBT. pic.twitter.com/t2hwF4yD6J

— Transformacion (@TraansFormacion) November 11, 2020

Diane Marie Rodriguez Zambrano is the first transgender woman to be elected to the National Assembly of Ecuador. In 2013, the LGBTQI activist was also the first trans woman to run for Congress in the country.

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Catherine Cortez Masto

Catherine Cortez Masto wins Nevada Senate race. She'll be the first Latina senator https://t.co/PTBDaPMbXP #NVsen pic.twitter.com/cHwQ0F6tvG

— HuffPost (@HuffPost) November 9, 2016

Mexican-American Catherine Cortez Masto is the first Latina senator in the country, and the first female senator of Nevada. She also served as the state’s Attorney General, from 2007 to 2015.

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Michelle Bachelet

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Belarus:

– Hundreds arrested each week in protests
– Over 900 people treated as criminal suspects
– Protests dispersed with violence
– Govt should immediately release those detained pic.twitter.com/cksr0zSrBz

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) December 4, 2020

Michelle Bachelet became the first female President of Chile during her first term, from 2006 to 2010, and is currently the country’s president. She is also the first candidate since 1932 to win the vote twice, in competitive elections.

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Maria de Jesus Patricio

Maria de Jesus Patricio #Marichuy officially registers to run for Mexican presidency in 2018https://t.co/4TctTNkjzF pic.twitter.com/CJMciXEwn9

— Think Mexican (@ThinkMexican) October 8, 2017

Maria de Jesus Patricio, of the Nahua people (sometimes referred to as the Aztecs), is the first indigenous woman to run for the presidency of Mexico (in 2018). Marichuy, as she is known, is also the sixth woman candidate in the country’s history.

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Mayra Peña Lindsay

Mayra Peña Lindsay @VillKeyBiscayne outlines Key Biscayne's proactive commitment to environment & Biscayne Bay, #citizenscience involvement pic.twitter.com/W0nJ0XkfKW

— Karen Keene (@karenwilkening) June 13, 2017

Mayra Peña Lindsay became the first female, and first Latina, Mayor of Key Biscayne in 2014. The Cuban-born politician is currently the Mayor of the Florida town.