The organization is supporting candidates in California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
Washington, D.C. — Latino Victory Fund continues expanding its endorsed slate of Democratic First Latina down-ballot candidates across the country, this time with endorsements in California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and for the first time, Tennessee.
The endorsed candidates are Janet Diaz, Pennsylvania State Senate District 13; Dolores Guzman, Florida State House District 27; Gabby Salinas, Tennessee House District 97; and Nora Vargas, San Diego County Supervisor, District 1, San Diego, CA. The candidates are part of Latino Victory Fund’s ‘First Latina’ candidate slate, an initiative to endorse Latinas who would be the first elected in their respective seats.
“When they are elected, all of these candidates will shatter barriers for future generations of Latinas who run for office,” said Nathalie Rayes, Latino Victory Fund president & CEO. “We are proud to support these amazing women. They are proven leaders that work tirelessly with compassion and integrity to improve their communities.”
Meet the Candidates
Janet Diaz, Pennsylvania State Senate District 13
- Diaz, who is Puerto Rican, became the first Latina elected to the Lancaster City Council in 2017.
- If elected, Díaz would be the first Latina to serve in the Pennsylvania State Senate.
- Pennsylvania’s State Senate District 13 would be a key Democratic pick-up in 2020 because they are only three seats away from flipping the chamber.
Dolores Guzman, Florida State House District 27
- If elected, Guzman would be the first Latina and first Puerto Rican woman to represent Florida State House District 27.
- Guzman’s work in the healthcare industry got her into politics. She is a board member at the Hispanic Health Initiative. In 2018, she was elected county commissioner of the West Volusia Hospital Authority, where she provides input on initiatives to provide services to Volusia’s underserved communities.
Gabby Salinas, Tennessee House District 97
- If elected, Salinas would be the first woman and the first Latina to represent District 97 in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
- Salinas is a Bolivian immigrant, a scientist, a healthcare advocate, and a three-time cancer survivor. She’s pursuing her Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences, and her research focuses on discovering new therapies for drug resistant malaria. She is running to give back to the community that gave her a chance at life.
Nora Vargas, San Diego County Supervisor, District 1, San Diego, CA
- If elected, Vargas would be the first Latina to serve on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
- Vargas is a Mexican immigrant. She was the first Latina executive at Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest and the first Latina appointed to the California State Teachers’ Retirement System(CalSTRS), the largest teacher pension board in the nation. She currently serves as the President of the Southwestern College Governing Board.
