How many Mexican Americans are in the American political system?

Political representation by Mexican Americans
tends to be strongest in the states where they constitute a larger percentage of the Latino
population. At the state level and in terms of nonpartisan activist organizations, Mexican
Americans are especially active in the Southwest and West. Along with serving in political
office, many activists have made a strong impact on the rights and representation of Latinos, as
well as Mexican Americans. The Chicago movement of the 1960s and the efforts of the United Farm
Workers, under the leadership of Cesar Chavez, made particularly notable
contributions.

The first three Mexican American U.S. Senators were from New
Mexico, beginning with Octaviano Larrazolo, who entered in 1928. The first female Mexican
American Senator is Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, beginning in 2017; she is currently the
only Mexican American Senator.

In the U.S. Congress, representation by
Mexican Americans began in the 19th century, with Romualdo Pacheco of California, who first
entered the House in 1877. After Pacheco, the next Mexican American from California wasEdward R.
Roybal , who entered in 1963 and served 30 years. Five Congressmen were elected from New Mexico
in the 1910s€“1960s; three of them went on to serve in the Senate. In particular, Dennis
(originally Dionisio) Ch¡vez had a long congressional career: served in the House 1931€“1935,
and the was elected to the Senatethe first Latino who was elected to a full termand served there
until 1962. Ch¡vez was also the first Senator born in New Mexico. While Texas has many active
Mexican American public servants, the first Congressman from Texas, Henry B. Gonz¡lez, entered
in 1961 and served until 1999. Barbara Vucanovich of Nevada, who served from 1983€“1997, was the
first female Latina Representative, not just the first Mexican American woman, as well as the
first woman elected from Nevada. As of 2019, there are more than 20 Representatives of Mexican
American heritage serving in the House, the majority of whom are from California.

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