Six Hispanic Candidates Seek Federal Seats

Six Hispanic candidates are currently on the ballot for federal office in the upcoming November 3 elections. They are running for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate across Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, Nevada, Montana, and Nebraska. A victory for any of these candidates would result in a first for their respective state in terms of Hispanic representation in Congress.

Bobby Pulido, a Tex-Mex musician from Edinburg, is running for the 15th Congressional District in South Texas. The Democratic candidate is challenging Republican Mónica De La Cruz, who is seeking a third term. Pulido described his political origins in an October 27 interview on N+ Univision, citing a family history that includes a prosecutor and a county judge. He identifies as a conservative who supports gun ownership, noting that one of his sons is named Remington. Despite these views, he said he would not join the Republican Party because he believes the group values Latino votes more than Latino candidates. Pulido argued that the administration's current focus on deporting workers is incorrect and that efforts should target criminals instead. His campaign has focused on talking to residents rather than attacking his opponent. Key issues in his platform include high fuel costs, tariffs, and the war in Iran. Democrats view him as a primary target to retake the district, which they lost to De La Cruz in 2022.

Jessica Arriaga is running for the 2nd Congressional District in Pennsylvania. The Puerto Rican candidate is seeking to become the first Hispanic woman from the state to serve in the House. Arriaga is a former surgical technician who worked at the Philadelphia Naval Base. She is running as a Democrat in a district known for socioeconomic challenges and drug consumption. Her campaign focuses on addiction treatment and local economic conditions. She faces criticism for a lack of specific policy proposals on patient care and for limited campaign resources. She is competing against Republicans in a race where she is attempting to shift her public image away from her previous Democratic affiliations.

Eliott Rodriguez, a former television news anchor of Cuban descent, is running for the 27th Congressional District in Florida. The Democratic candidate is challenging Republican María Elvira Salazar, who is seeking re-election. Rodriguez has 40 years of experience in television journalism. He opposes large-scale immigration enforcement operations and suggests focusing ICE resources on individuals with criminal records. He supports work groups in Congress to address family economics, specifically citing high fuel and rental costs. The district faces rising housing prices and property insurance premiums.

Teresa Benitez-Thompson is a Democratic candidate for the 2nd Congressional District in Nevada. A former Miss Nevada 2002, she is challenging Republican David Flippo for the seat vacated by retiring Representative Mark Amodei. Her campaign centers on preserving public lands, reducing health insurance premiums, and providing affordable housing. Republicans have questioned her priorities, arguing she does not focus enough on the conservative electorate. The rural district is affected by high costs of living and federal regulations on agriculture and mining.

Alani Ines Bankhead, a retired lieutenant colonel, is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in Montana. She is competing against former federal prosecutor Kurt Alme and independent candidate Seth Bodnar. If elected, she would be the first Latina woman to serve as a Montana senator. Her platform includes preserving the Affordable Care Act, reforming campaign finance, and increasing recreational access to state lands. She has faced financial constraints in her campaign and criticism from rural voters regarding her lack of prior political experience.

Denise Powell is the Democratic candidate for the 2nd Congressional District in Nebraska. She is the daughter of migrants, one of whom worked in television. Powell previously worked in the hotel industry before entering politics. If she wins, she will be the first person of Latino heritage to represent Nebraska in the U.S. Congress. Her campaign strategy has involved direct engagement with residents to address local problems. The general election for all these races is scheduled for November 3.

The candidates represent a mix of personal backgrounds, including musicians, former beauty queens, military veterans, and journalists. Each is running in a district with specific economic pressures, from high housing costs in Nevada to fuel prices in Texas. The results will determine if these individuals become the first Hispanic officials in their respective states to hold these federal positions.