Latino leaders surge into local office as Trump-era attacks fuel new urgency | National

Rhetoric dehumanizing immigrant and Latino communities may appear more open and in-your-face in the current political climate. But that has not been a barrier for Latinos seeking elective office or high-level roles in government.

Voters are choosing an increasing number of nonwhite Hispanic leaders to local elective office — and many of the leaders are the first Latinos to hold their seats. Some political science experts attribute the rise of Latino leadership to years of grassroots organizing, coupled with ongoing demonization of their communities by Trump administration officials and conservative activists.

kAm“%92EVD E96 5:776C6?46 ?@H[ 😀 E92E E96C6VD E9:D 6IEC2 :?46?E:G6 @7 2? F?C6=6?E:?8 2EE24< @? {2E:?@D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[” D2:5 p??2 $2>A2:@[ 2? 6E9?:4 DEF5:6D AC@76DD@C 2E $2?E2 r=2C2 &?:G6CD:EJ H9@ DA64:2=:K6D 😕 C246 2?5 86?56C A@=:E:4D]k^Am

kAm%96C6 2C6 4FCC6?E=J 2? 6DE:>2E65 f[f__ {2E:?@ 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D ?2E:@?H:56[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 52E2 7C@> E96 }2E:@?2= pDD@4:2E:@? @7 {2E:?@ t=64E65 2?5 pAA@:?E65 ~77:4:2=D] %92EVD FA 7C@> e[ggb @77:4:2=D 😕 a_a_]k^Am

kAmtDE:>2E65 E@ ?F>36C 2D >2?J 2D dd >:==:@? A6@A=6 — `eT @7 E96 &]$] A@AF=2E:@? — {2E:?@D 2C6 E96 =2C86DE 6E9?:4 >:?@C:EJ 😕 E96 4@F?ECJ[ H:E9 A@=:E:4D[ :?E6C6DED 2?5 AC:@C:E:6D 2D 5:G6CD6 2D E96 ?2E:@?2= @C:8:?D C6AC6D6?E65 H:E9:? E96:C A@AF=2E:@?] qFE {2E:?@D 2=D@ 2C6 F?56CC6AC6D6?E65 2D 2 56>@8C2A9:4 24C@DD 6=64E:G6 @77:46D]k^Am

kAm$:?46 E96 368:??:?8 @7 !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>AVD D64@?5 E6C>[ {2E:?@ 4@>>F?:E:6D 92G6 366? 2 E2C86E @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^49:428@\:>>:8C2E:@?\7656C2=\2CC6DED\96=:4@AE6C\ECF>A\:46\g537egg7fg7b3e5`3g753hghddf3ag4cQm9:D 92C5\=:?6 :>>:8C2E:@? E24E:4Dk^2m] %96 766=:?8 @7 2EE24< 5@6D?VE DE@A E96C6] uC@> >6>6D D92C65 7C@> E96 @77:4:2= (9:E6 w@FD6 A286 A6CA6EF2E:?8 w:DA2?:4 DE6C6@EJA6D[ 2 7656C2==J =65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^ECF>A\564=2C6\6?8=:D9\@77:4:2=\=2?8F286\d3ac7e24“fag_b7e`d462eh6`b7gfacQmt?8=:D9\@?=J :?:E:2E:G6k^2m 2?5 2? 2?E:\5:G6CD:EJ[ 6BF:EJ 2?5 :?4=FD:@? AFD9 92G6 A2:?E65 2 E2C86E @? {2E:?@D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ]k^Am

kAmxEVD 2== =65 E@ >@C6 {2E:?@D D66<:?8 @77:46 E@ 5676?5 E96:C 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 8:G6 G@:46 E@ E9@D6 H9@ >2J 36 27C2:5 E@ DA62< @FE 😕 E96 4FCC6?E A@=:E:42= 4=:>2E6] pD 2 C6DF=E[ =68:D=2E@CD 92G6 AC@A@D65 >62DFC6D E92E :?4=F56 AC@G:5:?8 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD H:E9 AC@E64E:@?D 282:?DE E96 &]$] x>>:8C2E:@? 2?5 rFDE@>D t?7@C46>6?E[ 92=E:?8 E96 2AAC@G2= @7 xrt 56E6?E:@? 46?E6CD 😕 E96:C 4:E:6D[ 2?5 42==:?8 7@C 2 DE@A E@ xrt 7F?5:?8[ 2>@?8 @E96C 24E:@?D]k^Am

k9am!6??DJ=G2?:2 {2E:?@ >2J@C >2<6D 9:DE@CJk^9am

kAm{2?42DE6C[ !6??DJ=G2?:2[ H:E9 2 C@F89=J c_T w:DA2?:4 A@AF=2E:@?[ C646?E=J 6=64E65 y2:>6 pCC@J@ E96:C 7:CDE {2E:?@ >2J@C] pCC@J@ E@@< @77:46 😕 y2?F2CJ[ 27E6C 36:?8 6=64E65 H:E9 gdT @7 E96 G@E6]k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< 36:?8 E96 7:CDE {2E:?@ E@ 36 😕 E9:D C@=6 2?5 E96 7:CDE A6CD@? @7 4@=@C E@ 36 >2J@C @7 {2?42DE6C r:EJ 92D 366? 6I4:E:?8[” pCC@J@ E@=5 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD[ 255:?8 E92E 96 7:?5D :E “6IEC6>6=J 6I4:E:?8 E@ =625 2?5 C6AC6D6?E @FC 4@>>F?:EJ 😕 E9:D C@=6]”k^Am

kAm(:E9 C96E@C:4 2?5 ?2E:@?2= A@=:4:6D — DF49 2D 96:89E6?65 :>>:8C2E:@? 6?7@C46>6?E — 9FCE:?8 E96 {2E:?@ 4@>>F?:E:6D[ pCC@J@ D2:5[ 5:G6CD6 C6AC6D6?E2E:@? 😕 8@G6C?>6?E 😀 >@C6 :>A@CE2?E E92? 6G6C] w6 2=D@ 36=:6G6D E92E E96 C:D6 @7 6=64E65 {2E:?@ @77:4:2=D @G6C E96 =2DE 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD 😀 E96 C6DF=E @7 86?6C2E:@?D @7 {2E:?@D 36:?8 A@=:E:42==J 24E:G6 7:89E:?8 7@C 4:G:= C:89ED]k^Am

kAm“(6VC6 DE2CE:?8 E@ D66 2 =@E @7 E96 7CF:ED @7 E92E =23@C 4@>6 E@ 7CF:E:@?[” pCC@J@ D2:5] “%96C6VD ?6G6C 2 A6C764E E:>6 E@ D6CG6 J@FC 4@>>F?:EJ[ E96C6VD E96 C:89E E:>6] p?5 x E9:?< C:89E ?@H 😀 E96 C:89E E:>6 7@C 2 =@E @7 {2E:?@D E@ DE6A FA :?E@ E96D6 C@=6D[ 6DA64:2==J H:E9 6G6CJE9:?8 E92E 😀 8@:?8 @?]”k^Am

k9am{2E:?@ C6AC6D6?E2E:@? 6IA2?5:?8 😕 4:EJ 4@F?4:=Dk^9am

kAm|2?J >@C6 {2E:?@D >256 9:DE@CJ H96? E96J E@@< @77:46 😕 62C=:6C E9:D J62C]k^Am

kAmx? x@H2[ #@3 q2CC@? H2D DH@C? 😕 y2?] `a 2D E96 7:CDE {2E:?@ C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 @? E96 s6D |@:?6D r:EJ r@F?4:=] p?E@?:@ !24964@ H2D DH@C? @? y2?] f E@ 36 E96 7:CDE {2E:?@ >6>36C @7 E96 4:EJ 4@F?4:= 😕 r@?J6CD[ v6@C8:2] x? ~9:@[ t:=66? %@CC6D 3642>6 E96 7:CDE |6I:42? p>6C:42? H@>6? E@ H:? 2 4:EJ 4@F?4:= D62E 😕 {@C2:?] $23C:?2 v@?K2=6K 2=D@ E@@< @77:46 E96C6 2D E96 7:CDE !F6CE@ #:42? H@>6? E@ D6CG6]k^Am

kAmp?5 😕 |:49:82?[ r=2C2 |2CE:?6K 2?5 s6J2?:C2 }6G2C6K |2CE:?6K H6C6 DH@C? 😕 y2?] ` E@ E96 {2?D:?8 r:EJ r@F?4:=[ >2<:?8 E96 4:EJ E96 7:CDE 😕 E96 &]$] E@ 92G6 2 4@F?4:= H:E9 >2;@C:EJ {2E:?@ C6AC6D6?E2E:@?]k^Am

kAm|2CE:?6K D2:5 96C 6=64E:@?[ 2?5 E92E @7 }6G2C6K |2CE:?6K[ >2<6D 2 3:E DE2E6>6?E 23@FE “H92E A6@A=6 2C6 ECF=J @A6? E@ 56DA:E6 E96 ?2E:@?2= C96E@C:4]”k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< 3642FD6 @7 E96 C96E@C:4 E92E H6 2C6 92G:?8 E@ 7246 2?5 D@>6 @7 E96 324<=2D9 @? E96 ?2E:@?2= DE286[ x E9:?< E92E’D ;FDE 7F6=65 E96 7:C6 7@C D@ >2?J A6@A=6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 $2=E {2<6 r:EJ r@F?4:= 2=D@ 92D 2 {2E:?@ >2;@C:EJ[ H:E9 7@FC @7 D6G6? D62ED[ 27E6C tC:<2 r2C=D6?[ E96 8C2?552F89E6C @7 |6I:42? :>>:8C2?ED[ H2D DH@C? 😕 @? y2?] d] r2C=D6? D2:5 96C DF446DD 😀 A@DD:3=6 3642FD6 @7 4FCC6?E 2?5 AC6G:@FD 86?6C2E:@?D E92E AFE 😕 E96 H@C< E@ 4C62E6 DA246D H96C6 {2E:?2D H6C6 6?4@FC2865 E@ E2<6 =6256CD9:A A@D:E:@?D]k^Am

kAm“x 766= =:<6 xV> 3F:=5:?8 @? 62C=J 86?6C2E:@?D @7 =6256CD9:A[” r2C=D6? D2:5] “%92EVD 3@E9 2? 9@?@C 2?5 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ E@ :>AC@G6 $2=E {2<6 r:EJ 7@C E96 A6@A=6 H9@ =:G6 96C6]”k^Am

kAmr2C=D6? D2:5 6G6? :7 C6AC6D6?E2E:@? 2E E96 7656C2= =6G6= 😀 ?@E 9:89 @C G:D:3=6 D96 D2:5 92G:?8 C6AC6D6?E2E:@? 2E E96 =@42= =6G6= 42? 92G6 2 9F86 :>A24E]k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< E92E :EVD 4C:E:42==J :>A@CE2?E E92E H6 4@?E:?F6 E@ 3F:=5 @? E9:D >@>6?EF>[” r2C=D6? D2:5] “%96 >2;@C:EJ @7 492?86 E92E 42? 92AA6? DE2CED =@42==J[ :E 5@6D?VE DE2CE 😕 (2D9:?8E@? 3FE 😕 r:EJ w2==[ D49@@= 3@2C5D 2?5 ?6:893@C9@@5D 4@?G6CD2E:@?D] %92EVD E96 <:?5 @7 >@>6?EF> xV5 =@G6 E@ D66 2== 24C@DD E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D]”k^Am

kAmr2C@=:?2 (6==6D[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 %96 u:CDE pD<[ 2? @C82?:K2E:@? E92E DFAA@CED 7:CDE\E:>6 76>2=6 42?5:52E6D 2E E96 DE2E6 =6G6=[ D2:5 E96 C62D@? H9J {2E:?@ C6AC6D6?E2E:@? 😀 >@C6 G:D:3=6 2E E96 =@42= =6G6= 😀 3642FD6 E9@D6 =6256CD 2C6 23=6 E@ 3F:=E ECFDE H:E9 E96:C 4@>>F?:EJ >F49 62D:6C 8:G6? E96:C AC@I:>:EJ]k^Am

kAm“%96J 24EF2==J @H H92E A6@A=6 42C6 23@FE[” (6==6D D2:5] “%96J 92G6 2 DE2<6 3642FD6 E96J 2C6 724:?8 D:>:=2C E9:?8D]”k^Am

k9am{@42= =6G6= {2E:?@ =6256CD9:A 3F:=5D @? DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= C6AC6D6?E2E:@?k^9am

kAmxEVD ?@E ;FDE 2E E96 =@42= =6G6=] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^FD\=2E:?@\A@AF=2E:@?\9:DA2?:4\ef66_3cd7_`564a5aacdd7_`6geacdb2Qm{2E:?@D 2C6 >2<:?8 :?C@25D 2E E96 7656C2= =6G6= E@@k^2m]k^Am

kAm%96 “hE9 r@?8C6DD 92D de w:DA2?:4 @C {2E:?@ >6>36CD] %92E D92<6D @FE E@ `_]bdT @7 E@E2= >6>36CD9:A[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 r@?8C6DD:@?2= #6D62C49 $6CG:46]k^Am

kAmu@C 4@>A2C:D@?[ E96C6 H6C6 @?=J `c w:DA2?:4 @C {2E:?@ >6>36CD 2?5 2== H6C6 >2=6 😕 E96 hhE9 r@?8C6DD[ c_ J62CD 28@]k^Am

kAmpE E96 DE2CE @7 a_ad[ E96C6 H6C6 D6G6? w:DA2?:4 &]$] D6?2E@CD] %92E ?F>36C 564C62D65 E@ D:I H96? E96? $6?] |2C4@ #F3:@ C6D:8?65 E@ 364@>6 E96 $64C6E2CJ @7 $E2E6[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^ECF>A\423:?6E\>2C4@\CF3:@\D64C6E2CJ\@7\DE2E6\?@>:?66\bh4bfg6`h5_baf2f7_h`7b_a527g42b6Qm7:CDE {2E:?@ E@ 9@=5 E96 A@D:E:@?k^2m]k^Am

kAm{2DE J62C 2=D@ >2C<65 2 C64@C5 7@C {2E:?2D 2E E96 DE2E6 =6G6=] {2E:?2D 96=5 a`c[ @C a]hT[ @7 D62ED 😕 DE2E6 =68:D=2EFC6D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 r6?E6C 7@C p>6C:42? (@>6? 2?5 !@=:E:4D] %92E H2D FA 7C@> `ha D62ED 😕 a_ac]k^Am

kAmrFCC6?E=J[ }6H |6I:4@ v@G] |:496==6 {F;2? vC:D92> 😀 E96 @?=J 24E:G6 {2E:?2 8@G6C?@C 😕 E96 &]$] ~?=J EH@ {2E:?2D 92G6 366? 6=64E65 8@G6C?@C 😕 &]$] 9:DE@CJ[ 2?5 3@E9 H6C6 😕 }6H |6I:4@]k^Am

kAmx? |2C49[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^f5hd67eahg2ec`d_gh`54a4eh`g9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^f5hd67eahg2ec`d_gh`54a4eh`g25h`g25h`gQmv:?2 w:?@;@D2k^2m H@? E96 s6>@4C2E:4 ?@>:?2E:@? 7@C 8@G6C?@C[ >2<:?8 96C E96 D64@?5 {2E:?2 E@ H:? 2 >2;@C A2CEJ 8F36C?2E@C:2= ?@>:?2E:@? 😕 %6I2D]k^Am

kAm{2E:?@D D2H E96 3:886DE C:D6 😕 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D 5FC:?8 E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 😕 C6DA@?D6 E@ 2EE246?E2= C:89ED[ D2:5 $2>A2:@[ E96 $2?E2 r=2C2 &?:G6CD:EJ AC@76DD@C] $96 D2:5 E92E EC6?5 😀 =:<6=J E@ 4@?E:?F6 2D E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 4@?E:?F6D :ED 2EE24>:8C2?E 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am

kAm“(6’C6 =:<6=J E@ D66 >@C6 {2E:?@D CF? 7@C @77:46 2E E96 =@42= =6G6=[ 2E E96 DE2E6 =6G6= 2?5 6G6? 2E E96 ?2E:@?2= =6G6= 😕 C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 2EE24< @? D:>A=J E96:C 6I:DE6?46[” $2>A2:@ D2:5] “xE 😀 F?H:EE:?8=J 3@E9 E6CC@C:K:?8 E96 {2E:?@ 4@>>F?:EJ 2D H6== 2D >@3:=:K:?8 4@>>F?:E:6D]”k^Am