Sylvia Garcia & Veronica Escobar Become Texas’ First Latinas in the U.S. Congress

Sylvia Garcia and Veronica Escobar are making history…

The Texas politicians will be the Lone Star State’s first Hispanic women in the U.S. Congress, with Democrats in Houston and El Paso both earning that trailblazing distinction during the same electoral cycle.

Sylvia Garcia & Veronica Escobar

Garcia, a state senator, won a heavily Hispanic district in Houston, replacing retiring Democratic Rep. Gene Green, who remained popular representing the area for decades despite being a self-described white man who spoke marginal Spanish.

A former county judge in El Paso, Escobar won a seat to replace El Paso Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who left the House to challenge Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

Texas has the nation’s second-largest Hispanic population behind California but had never elected a Latina to either congressional chamber. Cruz became the state’s first Hispanic male senator in 2012.

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