Sacramento – Republican lawmakers have already taken their hands out of the Democratic-led California Latino Legislative Cauldron.
They said nine Latino Republican lawmakers created the California Hispanic Legislative Caucus to support priorities for their free colleagues.
“My experience as a Latino is different from my immigrant grandmother,” said state Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Acton), a former member who was recently elected to the Senate, which helped create the Republican caucus. “The issues that the Latino community wants to focus on are ignored by Sacramento.”
These changes have been happening for a long time, she said.
The California Legislature has undergone a historic turnaround, now including 44 Latin American lawmakers, more than a third of state legislators, and the largest number of all time, including an increasing number of Republicans. This is a time of evolving voter interests and demographic changes, Republicans stress that their new caucus will focus on Latino priorities on education, public safety and affordability, and less on Democrats’ concerns. Overall stone section issues such as immigration and health care, etc. .
During the November election, the changing political landscape in California became apparent.
Overall, 51% of Latino voters voted in favor of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, but An estimated 54% of Latino men Vote for Republican nominee Donald Trump. California voters are also helpful Flip two democratic regions By electing Republican Congressman Jeff Gonzalez of Indiana and Leticia Castillo of Latino’s Home Garden.
“I think this is a very healthy development for the Latino community,” said Mike Madrid, a Republican political adviser and Latino demographic expert. “I don’t think any party has a monopoly in the heart of the Latino community. ”
Both sides tend to align with the cost of living and economic costs, especially among blue-collar working-class Latinos. However, Madrid noted that Latino Republicans and Democrats would not agree on policy issues related to abortion rights and immigration or anything “outside the economy.” One of the main concerns for Latino voters is the cost of living, housing, work and economy A poll 1,000 voters from the nonprofit Latino Community Foundation.
Valladares, who formed the Republican caucus with conference host Kate A. Sanchez (R-Trabuco Canyon), told The Times, “We’re not monolithic.”
Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil of Democrat Jackson said she felt “closed” by her Democratic counterparts. She also said the Democratic-led Latino Caucus would support “outdated solutions” to problems such as “putting Latinos under the overall umbrella of poverty, agricultural workers.”
“That’s not modern Latino,” she said.
California’s Latino population accounts for more than one-third of the state’s eligible voters According to a 2024 study by the UCLA Latino Institute for Policy and Politics. The study found that Latino Californians remain the least underpaid for hours than any other major race or ethnicity, and more of a lack of high school diploma.
California Institute of Public Policy Discover So are Latin Americans Fastest growth Last year, the working class part shifted further than any election since 1994.
Latino Caucus with 35 members, Leading in history After the Democrats elected the first Latino lawmakers in 1962, they focused on a wide range of policy priorities, including providing protection and equal opportunities for immigrants, regardless of legal status, promoting STEM programs in schools and expanding paid sick leave and Housing for farmers.
“Even in the Latino Caucus, you have moderates, progressives and everything in between,” Miguel Santiago, a former member of the Democratic Congress and Latino Caucus. “But one thing that always unites us through every argument is our strong support for the Latino community, especially those without documentary.”
Santiago said he “doubts” about the Spanish legislative caucus representing Latino interests, especially when protection of undocumented and these differences are “irrelevant.”
Former Councillor Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) left a legacy of progressive reforms, including giving farm workers overtime pay and expanding children’s education, and he agreed that each party should have a Latino caucus.
“I never understand why they want to be part of our core group,” he said. “They just yell, we vote, they lose.”
This is not the first time that it has been excluded from joining the Latino Caucus. In 2014, Rocky Chavez was No joining This sparked discussions on the diversity of Latino policymakers’ opinions and policy objectives.
Madrid said a growing number of Latino Republicans are a “healthy sign” of diversity within the community and believed that the political system should allow these differences without forcing consensus on racial or cultural issues. Latinos, who look less at the world through a racial perspective, said: “That’s progress.”
The Republican-led Hispanic Legislative Cauldron will have nine members. Valladares said it was registered as a nonprofit and political action committee and would begin supporting reelection of those incumbent and aiming for other seats.
The caucus is awaiting official endorsement from the legislative leadership and approved “equal” funds for staffing by the Democratic-led Latino Caucus, which Valladares said is about $500,000. As of Friday afternoon, legislative leaders could not answer whether they would approve the funding.
