Washington, D.C. — Today, Latino Victory Fund announced the endorsement of State Senator Tony Vargas for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. If elected, Vargas would be the first Latino candidate elected to this seat.
Statement from Nathalie Rayes, Latino Victory Fund President and CEO
“Tony has worked tirelessly for Nebraskans in the state legislature, and he possesses the ideal combination of experience and dedication to his community that makes him a great candidate to represent the 2nd District in Congress. Tony will fight for economic fairness, expanding educational opportunities, and access to affordable, quality health care. We are thrilled to support Tony because he’s an effective legislator and a true community leader whose voice is greatly needed on Capitol Hill.”
Meet Tony Vargas
Tony Vargas has served Nebraskans as an elected official for the past nine years. Vargas learned the values of community, hard work, and perseverance from his parents. They came from humble beginnings and sacrificed everything to provide their children with an opportunity for a brighter future. No matter how busy the family was, they had dinner together every night, where his parents encouraged Vargas to “stay grounded, but reach for the stars.”
Since 2013, Vargas has devoted his career to public service and improving opportunities for all Nebraskans. He was a member of the Omaha Public Schools Board and then a member of the Nebraska Legislature. As a state senator, Vargas has developed a reputation for civility and reaching across the aisle to get things done for Nebraska workers and small businesses. Latino Victory previously endorsed Vargas in his bid to the state Senate in 2016 and again in 2020.
He has successfully passed legislation to strengthen public schools, improve access to health care, encourage technology and innovation, and improve consumer protections. Vargas began his career as a public-school teacher, receiving “Most Outstanding Teacher” and “Teacher of the Year” awards, and has worked in the non-profit and education sectors, striving to improve the quality of life and educational opportunities for thousands of children across the country.
As one of the first members of his family to graduate from college, Vargas earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Rochester and a Masters in Education at Pace University. Vargas and his wife, Lauren, are raising their two young kids, Ava and Luca, in Omaha.
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The Latino Victory Fund is a progressive political action committee with the mission of growing Latino political power by increasing Latino representation at every level of government – from the school board to the Senate to the White House.
