On Election Day last year, conversations with family confirmed Suzette Martinez Valladares’ hunch that Latino Republicans will shock California.
“I swear they were socialists when they were 20,” the Acton-based state senator said of her relatives as we had lunch at a restaurant in Santa Ana. “But then [one of them] Send me a voting photo [Donald] trump card. I thought,What’s going on here? I never thought I would see this day. ‘”
To the right with Valladares is Republican Latina Kate Sanchez, whose parliamentary members extend from Mission Viejo to Temecula.
“He can’t afford to buy a house, and he’s frustrated,” Valladarez continued to tell his family, refusing to confirm her because he didn’t publicly act as a Trump voter. “And I think a lot of Latino voters feel the same way. So, I think it’s a huge opening for Republicans in the state, and I think it’s the beginning of a shift that I want to make sure we keep moving forward.”
The two are the founders and co-chairs of the New California Hispanic Legislative Caucus, the latest attempt by Latino Republicans at the State Building. It is a response to the 51-year-old Latino Legislative Cauldron, a Sacramento Power Never acknowledge a Republican member.
“When you’re not popular, you learn to build your own. She’s quieter than Valladares and gets rid of the political cliché of landing with a firm belief. “So I think it’s a kind of bless. When we are elected [last year]we’re like, “The time is, we’re doing that.'”
Although Kamala Harris quickly won the state, Trump’s biggest gain in his 2020 run was in Latino County in the Central Valley and Los Angeles County City and Downey and Huntington Parks. Valladares previously served as a member of the General Assembly and won an open Senate seat. at the same time, Jeff Gonzalez and Leticia Castillo score poorly In their Inland Empire Parliament, Latino Democrats supported by long-standing political machines in the region play.
These victories pushed the number of Latino Republican lawmakers in Sacramento to nine, more than doubled the first four highs, Set up two years ago. Latinos now account for almost one-third of Sacramento Republican lawmakers — in a state that shuts Latino voters out by pursuing a generation. A series of xenophobic measures in the 1990s. This is the legacy Sanchez and Valladarez freely acknowledge that their opponents will throw at them.
“I think the Republicans may have missed a lot of opportunities in the past,” Sanchez said. “But we’re going to do a good job.”
“I think we’ve done a lot of work over the last decade,” added Valladares, 44. “Those seeds we planted have grown now.”
The Hispanic Republican caucus is forming at a time when Democrats still have super tribute in two legislative chambers in the state, and the Republicans nationwide are filled with signs of multiple culturalism. Still, both have confidence in what they do.
“Sacramento doesn’t know how to read the room,” Valladarez said. “My game should be super close. I’m ready to win with five votes, not five points.”
“I want to say the elephant in the room,” Sanchez added. Trump has been a “hard problem” for Latino voters, but “Not so many anymore. ”
Summary of the time Suzette Martinez Valladares was at the legislative session at the Capitol in 2022.
(Rich Pedroncelli/AP)
Of the two, Sanchez has a more traditional conservative growth, growing up in Rancho Santa Margarita and Mission Viejo, and then studying at a Rhode Island state A small Catholic college.
After working in a conservative think tank and serving as a staff member of Republican U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, Sanchez ran for then-Temicola Mayor Matt Rahn in 2022 ( Matt Rahn’s rally seat. He became the company’s favorite in the primary and gained a huge cash advantage in the election.
“I’m not exactly suitable for the party to expect me to look like,” Sanchez, of Italian and Mexican descent, said before smiling. “Telling Latinos is the worst thing to do.”
She wore three pairs of walking shoes and won a wealthy area with Latinos making up 22% of the population, saying her victory was “a testament to demand, momentum and openness to having Hispanic women”. In the 2024 election, she defeated her Democratic opponent with 23 percentage points.
Valladares grew up in Sylmar, the “most conservative member” of a working-class family, with her father’s Mexican-American leaning to the right, while her maternal Puerto Rican relatives It is “very progressive”.
In the morning, driving to Silma High School, where her uncle introduced Rush Limbaugh to her. When the counselor insisted that she should register as a Democrat, she didn’t appreciate it because she was Latino.
“From the city council to the county supervisor, I represent me on every level,” Valadales said. “On Sunday, my park will be closed due to gangs. I remember a group of friends from my 11th grade gave birth to me.” Kid. So, I thought, “If we were represented by Democrats of all power, why is my community still suffering? ”
In the alternative universe, Valadales can still be The legendary San Fernando Valley political machine Over the past 30 years, this has allowed Latinos to be placed from political offices at all levels in the region, from school boards to U.S. Senate seats Alex Padilla.
Pioneering Valley politician Cindy Montañez Helping Valladares’ college admission papers begin a constant friendship Until Montanitz died in 2023. Valladares also volunteered Failed 2001 Los Angeles City Council Competition Tony Cárdenas at the time, the awards ceremony later won the council election Representative to the Pacoma area for 12 years.
She described Cardanas as a “great man” and considered the 2001 game as a “sad loss.” But her experience with the Democratic campaign only cemented her choice to register with the Republican.
“I don’t feel like they’re solving the economic problems of small business owners like my father,” Valadales said. “I feel like I’m giving the Democrats in my youth, every opportunity to convince me to support me. They don’t .”
I ask both, Latino Democratic congressmen in California don’t understand Latino political moments yet.
“Immigration is a bit of a concern for immigration,” Sanchez said, whose first husband had no evidence. “Hispanic is the structure of California, not a problem. I think if we focus on a problem, it’s bad for everyone.”
The Orange County Convention raised Kate Sanchez for the second semester in November.
(Gustavo Arellano / Los Angeles Times)
I point out that the members of the Latino Legislative Caucus would think they work on behalf of Californians of all working classes.
Valladares once again raised her Trumper relative. Last summer, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a conference bill that would ineligible California residents to participate in state programs This allows first-time home buyers to apply for an interest-free loan application of $150,000.
“[The relative] The Senator said the bill was very angry. “he so Want to buy a house. What about that? That might be what made him vote for Trump. ”
Sanchez and Valladares support Trump’s call, which is called “the worst of the worst” but is not a full deportation of all unauthorized immigrants. They want to see immigration reform, but think it is a federal problem. Additionally, they noted that the Latinos they spoke with were more concerned about the “kitchen table” issue.
Support from years of polls shows that immigration is less important to Latinos than democratic lawmakers and immigration advocacy groups. and hatred against illegal immigration of California Latin Americans Higher than in decades.
“It’s their wedge problem. It’s their emotional problem,” Valadales told the Democrats. “And when you don’t give other perspectives, opinions or policy fixes like we do, they dominate it.”
She lets the beat pass. “They are used to owning the space. No more.”
“You said it well!” Sanchez said.
The Hispanic Legislative Caucus has not met yet, but both are already planning. Valladares invites Latino Republican pioneers to become honorary members – Former Governor Abel Maldonado and Rod Pachecohe became the first Latino Republican elected to Sacramento in more than a century after winning a seat in the Inland Empire parliament in the 1990s.
Sanchez outlines a legislative package that highlights what she describes as “the mission of affordability, security and good education,” she said Latinos voted in 2024.
The two said they wanted to allow anyone to join the caucus regardless of political affiliation. But they also want to help Latino Republicans win local elections and build benches to ensure politicians like them have been in Sacramento for the next few years, rather than ridiculing anomalies.
“We will advocate for issues that concern to Hispanics in California,” Sanchez said.
Valladares brought her closing thought to their fanatics at the Latino Legislative Caucus.
“Our caucus is here to represent Californians in working to address these key issues,” she said. “We will do it with or without you.”
