Congress at age 29, and two Latina Congressional
representatives, Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia,
the first Texas Latinas elected to Congress. America
Marisa Rivera is president of
Mpowerment Works, a
motivational speaker, executive
coach and leadership and
empowerment consultant.
Marisa@MpowermentWorks.com
is hungry for a refreshing new leadership, and women
are rising across the country to change their
underrepresentation. Women are stepping up to lead
and have their voice and views be heard. Women
make up 51 percent of the U.S. population, weneed
to work towards 51 percent representation in
Congress as well. The results of this election are not
going to turn around women’s underrepresentation in
American politics drastically, but it is the beginning of
a well overdue inclusion of women in American
politics. The results slightly raise the overall female
representation in Congress from 20 percent to 23
percent. It is going to take multiple elections with the
same engagement and enthusiasm to change the
landscape, but it is a great kick start to the marathon
we must run!
Today is a new day in America. The leadership of
women of all backgrounds, will change the landscape
of America, reminding everyone that time is up, and
our turn is NOW. Let’s get to work!
LS
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this article? Email us at info@latinastyle.com
Changing the Land
of the Free and
Home of the Brave
By Marisa Rivera
This has been an extraordinary year for
women running for office. The current
political climate has propelled a record
¡Punto Final!
number of women to run for office, including Latinas
and veterans. As I am writing this article, nothing but
pride, inspiration and excitement overcomes me.
Women have broken every record at the state
legislative level, as well as in gubernatorial,
congressional and senate races.
Just like the #MeToo Movement and #TimesUP
Movement has amplified women’s voices this year,
our political climate has energized and empowered
women to come to the forefront and run for office at
record numbers to restore the heart and moral
compass of this great nation.
A whopping 3,379 women ran for state
legislative seats, surpassing the previous record by
730 candidates according to the Rutgers University’s
Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP).
Twenty-three women ran for seats in the Senate and
11 won. Two hundred and thirty-nine women ran for
Congress and 106 won seat in the House, and 16
women ran in gubernatorial races in 17 states and
nine won. (CAWP & The Brookings Institution).
The slate of nominees was the most diverse
in history including, black, white, Latina, Asian,
American Indian, Muslim, LGBT, veterans and they
range from 29 years old to senior citizens.
Women veterans ran for Congress in record
numbers too. They want to continue their service to
this country by running for office. Women like, Chrissy
Houlahan, an Air Force veteran who won in
Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District race; Mikie
Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot won in New
Jersey’s 11th Congressional District; LTC Amy
McGrath, ret. former Marine fighter pilot, ran for
(Congress-District 6, KY); Gina Ortiz Jones (TX), former
Captain and Intelligence Officer in the Air Force, ran for
Congress, District 23rd, TX and Elaine Luria (VA), a
nuclear engineer and Navy Commander, ret. ran for VA
2nd district and won and many others. (Washington
Post & USA Today).
They have protected and defended our country
with their uniform and now, they hope to bring their
fighting spirit to Washington, D.C., to keep
serving their country and putting country over
party to preserve the land of the free and the
home of the brave.
Latinas also made history for both
parties. Latinas that broke records include: Jeanette
Nuñez, the first Latina Lieutenant Governor
for the State of Florida and the highest-ranking Latina
in the history of Florida politics; Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest woman ever elected to
48 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle Vol. 24, No. 6, 2018
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