The New Faces in the 118th Congress
Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) District 3
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is a fifth-generation Washingtonian, former small business owner, and working mom who serves as Southwest Washington’s independent voice in Congress. As the daughter of an immigrant and pastor, she learned by example the importance of working for her community. Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez earned her degree in economics at Reed College and co-owned an auto repair and machine shop with her husband, Dean, before coming to Congress. They were able to purchase their building with the help of an SBA loan and know the difficult choices small business owners often need to make. She serves on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Small Business Committee in the 118th Congress.
Delia Ramírez (D-Illinois) District 4
The daughter of working-class Guatemalan immigrants, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez is an accomplished legislator, social service director, community leader, and coalition builder who has dedicated her life and career to advocating for working families. In 2018, her community drafted Ramirez to run for State Representative of the 4th House District of Illinois. In the Illinois General Assembly, she successfully passed legislation expanding Medicaid coverage to IL senior citizens regardless of immigration status, securing over 450 million to build affordable housing, protecting abortion rights, and creating an elected school board in the City of Chicago. She co-founded the Illinois House Progressive Caucus and served as Assistant Majority Leader.
Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) District 6
Congresswoman Andrea Salinas is the proud daughter of a Mexican immigrant, a first-generation American, and a dedicated public servant working for the people of Oregon’s sixth district. Rep. Salinas was born in San Mateo, California, and grew up in Pleasant Hill, California. She was the first person in her family to attend a four-year university and earned her degree from the University of California, Berkeley. She has served as a U.S. congressional aide and policy advisor to Senator Harry Reid and Congressman Pete Stark. She has also served as a district aide for Congresswoman Darlene Hooley, and in 2017, she was appointed to the Oregon House of Representatives and served through the end of her term in 2022. In the Oregon House of Representatives, she served as House Majority Whip and was the Chair of the House Health Care Committee.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) District 5
Congresswoman Lori Chavez- DeRemer represents Oregon’s 5th congressional district that covers Linn County, most of Clackamas County, Deschutes County, and parts of Multnomah and Marion Counties, in the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to serving in Congress, in 2002 she served on the Happy Valley Parks Committee, where she helped build the Happy Valley 4th of July Festival that it is today. Later she won a seat on the Happy Valley City Council and became City Council President. She was elected to Mayor in 2010, becoming Happy Valley’s first Latina elected mayor. She was re-elected in 2014. She is one of the first Latinas and first Republican woman elected to Congress from the state of Oregon.
Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas) District 15
Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz is the first Latina and first Republican to represent the 15th Congressional District of Texas in the United States House of Representatives. In Congress, Rep. De La Cruz is fighting to keep the American Dream alive for the next generation of Texans. She is a champion for border security, an economy that works for American families, and improving healthcare access for South Texans. For over 20 years, she led several successful small businesses in her community, including an insurance agency.
Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.) District 8
Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo, M.D. represents Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, composed of most of Adams County, a large portion of Weld County, and a portion of Larimer County. Prior to her election to Congress in 2022, Rep. Caraveo served families across the North Denver metro area as a pediatrician. As one of the few Spanish-speaking pediatricians in the area, Rep. Caraveo spent nearly a decade treating families and children from Denver up to Greeley. She has also been selected to join the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, responsible for setting the direction of America’s scientific, economic, and technical growth.
Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) District 13
Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna is serving her first term as the Representative for Florida’s 13th Congressional District. Rep. Luna is a member of the House Freedom Caucus and the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus. Rep. Luna is the first Mexican-American woman elected to the U.S. Congress to represent Florida. She joined the military at a young age to leave behind the life of America’s low-income, inner-city communities. She would go on to graduate from the University of West Florida with a bachelor’s degree in biology. While serving in the United States Air Force.
Latinos in 118th Congress