Rising political stars in the Republican Party
OPINION As those newly elected officials from last months election prepare to take the oath of office in January, there will be many Hispanics among them. While the majority of those Hispanic elected are members of the Democratic party, its noteworthy to point out that more and more Hispanic members of the Republican Party are being elected and making history at the same time. SEE ALSO: Are Americans ready for another President Bush? Case in point, youd think that given the Democratic Partys wide support from the Hispanic community that it would be the one political entity to lay claim to having the highest number of high ranking Hispanics in its midst. Not so. Currently, the Republican Party proudly claims to have elected the only two sitting Hispanic governors, Susana Martinez of New Mexico and Brian Sandoval of Nevada, who are both Mexican-American. Add to that list, Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida both of Cuban heritage who are the only two Hispanic members of the United States Senate. Admittedly, Hispanic elected Democrats far out number Hispanic Republicans nationwide but especially in the House of Representatives. However, the number of Republican Latinos in the House is growing not reducing and one in particular, Bill Flores, who represents Texas 17th District, was recently named Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC). The RSC is an independent group made up of Republicans and is organized for the purpose of advancing a conservative social and economic agenda in the House of Representatives. As its Chairman, Congressman Flores will be the first Hispanic to run this or any other committee associated with the GOP. His primary role will be to ensure that a conservative tone is considered in key policy areas such as the budget, defense spending and general government reform. Interestingly, Flores election to the House is from a district that is not overwhelmingly Hispanic. This is a trending pattern with other Hispanic Republican officials, which if it continues, could bring even more Hispanics to Congress without support from only its own ethnic voting base. The number of Latinos elected to statewide office continues to grow and even though Republican Hispanics have a long way to go to catch up with their Democrat counterparts, this years election brought in a number of fresh Latino faces to state assemblies. In states such as Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Nevada where Republicans gained control in the state assemblies, a number of Hispanics elected to these bodies helped carry the party to a majority. And for the first time two Hispanics who happen to be Republican were elected state lieutenant governors, Carlos Lopez-Cantera representing Florida and Evelyn Sanguinetti from Illinois who is not only the first Latina lieutenant governor of her state but is the only Latina lieutenant governor in the country. From the above results in our most recent national election, it appears that for the first time in some areas of the United States, minorities are being elected to office by non-minorities, which is more pronounced in some locals than others. This is something new for Hispanics and something that is welcome for the advancement of voting for the most qualified candidate. SEE ALSO: Whats next for immigration now that Republicans control the Senate One can expect that the men and women mentioned in this article will be watched carefully as they perform their duties over the next years. And just as important, one can also hope and expect that the electorate represented by these folks will be very impressed by the work ethic and common sense these men and women will demonstrate as they help move the country toward a greater democracy.The post Rising political stars in the Republican Party appeared first on Voxxi.
OPINION
As those newly elected officials from last months election prepare to take the oath of office in January, there will be many Hispanics among them.
While the majority of those Hispanic elected are members of the Democratic party, its noteworthy to point out that more and more Hispanic members of the Republican Party are being elected and making history at the same time.
SEE ALSO: Are Americans ready for another President Bush?
Case in point, youd think that given the Democratic Partys wide support from the Hispanic community that it would be the one political entity to lay claim to having the highest number of high ranking Hispanics in its midst. Not so. Currently, the Republican Party proudly claims to have elected the only two sitting Hispanic governors, Susana Martinez of New Mexico and Brian Sandoval of Nevada, who are both Mexican-American. Add to that list, Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida both of Cuban heritage who are the only two Hispanic members of the United States Senate.
Admittedly, Hispanic elected Democrats far out number Hispanic Republicans nationwide but especially in the House of Representatives. However, the number of Republican Latinos in the House is growing not reducing and one in particular, Bill Flores, who represents Texas 17th District, was recently named Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC).
The RSC is an independent group made up of Republicans and is organized for the purpose of advancing a conservative social and economic agenda in the House of Representatives. As its Chairman, Congressman Flores will be the first Hispanic to run this or any other committee associated with the GOP.
His primary role will be to ensure that a conservative tone is considered in key policy areas such as the budget, defense spending and general government reform. Interestingly, Flores election to the House is from a district that is not overwhelmingly Hispanic.
This is a trending pattern with other Hispanic Republican officials, which if it continues, could bring even more Hispanics to Congress without support from only its own ethnic voting base.
The number of Latinos elected to statewide office continues to grow and even though Republican Hispanics have a long way to go to catch up with their Democrat counterparts, this years election brought in a number of fresh Latino faces to state assemblies.
In states such as Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Nevada where Republicans gained control in the state assemblies, a number of Hispanics elected to these bodies helped carry the party to a majority. And for the first time two Hispanics who happen to be Republican were elected state lieutenant governors, Carlos Lopez-Cantera representing Florida and Evelyn Sanguinetti from Illinois who is not only the first Latina lieutenant governor of her state but is the only Latina lieutenant governor in the country.
From the above results in our most recent national election, it appears that for the first time in some areas of the United States, minorities are being elected to office by non-minorities, which is more pronounced in some locals than others. This is something new for Hispanics and something that is welcome for the advancement of voting for the most qualified candidate.
SEE ALSO: Whats next for immigration now that Republicans control the Senate
One can expect that the men and women mentioned in this article will be watched carefully as they perform their duties over the next years. And just as important, one can also hope and expect that the electorate represented by these folks will be very impressed by the work ethic and common sense these men and women will demonstrate as they help move the country toward a greater democracy.
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The post Rising political stars in the Republican Party appeared first on Voxxi.
