Latino candidates have growing influence in Washington state politics

(The Center Square) – Latino influence in Washington state politics has been gradually building in the decade since Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo, joined the Legislature in 2014. Ortiz-Self is the chair of the first Latino Caucus, formed in 2023 by 11 House and Senate Democrats.

In 2025, the Center for Latino Leadership hopes to add conservative members to the Legislature to join Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, and Rep. Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy. Ybarra is currently running unopposed for the 13th Legislative District seat he has held since 2019.

At least six other Republican candidates with Latino heritage in their personal biographies have also filed for legislative office.

One of them is Maia Espinoza, who is challenging incumbent Sen. T’wina Nobles in Pierce County’s 28th Legislative District. Espinoza founded the Center for Latino Leadership in 2014 as an informal group seeking to break through stereotypes about Washington’s politically diverse Hispanic community.

“We still appeal to Latino leaders who consider themselves Democrats, but we’ve been particularly successful in getting Latino Republicans elected,” said Espinoza, citing Ybarra, Torres, and candidates for city, county and municipal positions across the state from Seattle to eastern Washington. “We appeal to a lot of business owners who believe in the American dream.”

Torres is one of those Latina leaders who comes from the business community. She was elected in the 15th Legislative District in 2022, but is now in the 16th Legislative District following redistricting after a federal judge redrew the state’s legislative map earlier this year. State law allows Torres to complete her term, which ends in 2026.

Torres is supporting Gloria Mendoza and Debra Manjarrez in the House races in her old district.

“Gloria was mayor of Grandview and has a similar background to myself, grew up in agriculture, first-generation Latina. Both are small business owners,” Torres said. “Gloria also still has teenagers in high school. Debra owns a CPA firm and farms with her husband, who is Latino. Both are very professional and care about the community, with their business background both will be successful in Olympia. They’re great candidates.”

Mendoza is running for 14th Legislative District Position 1 along with Republican Andy Kallinen, a park ranger from Klickitat County, and Democrat Chelsea Dimas, a Democratic activist.

In addition to Manjarrez, 14th Legislative District Position 2 candidates include Democrat Ana Ruiz Kennedy, a Pasco School volunteer, and Eddie Perez, who indicates “No Party Preference” and describes himself as a blue-collar worker who has been in the same job for 30 years.

Statewide races also drew Hispanic candidates this year. Republican Dr. Raul Garcia, an emergency room physician from Yakima who immigrated from Cuba as a child, is facing incumbent Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell in the race for U.S. Senate.

In the three-person primary for the open seat of Commissioner of Public Lands, former Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler is competing with fellow Republicans Sue Kuehl Pederson and Democrats Allen Lebovitz, Dave Upthegrove, Patrick DePoe and Jeralee Anderson.