Long barred by Democrats from California’s Latino Caucus, GOP lawmakers create their own group
Long shut out of California’s Latino caucus, Republican lawmakers are launching their own group for a growing class of GOP Latinos in the state Capitol.
“Latino families in California have been priced out of the California Dream,” said Sen. Suzette Valladares, R-Santa Clarita, one of the founders of the new California Hispanic Legislative Caucus. “There are millions of Latino voices that are not being represented in Sacramento, let alone by the current Latino Caucus.”
The Hispanic Caucus will be led by Valladares and Assembly member Kate Sanchez, R-Rancho Santa Margarita. They said Democrats will be welcome to join.
The California Latino Legislative Caucus was created more than 50 years ago and has never allowed Republican members into its ranks, which has drawn ire from Latino Republicans elected in recent years. It’s one of the most influential groups in the Legislature, with 38 members including Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, who chairs the Latino Caucus, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Long considered a reliable Democratic voting bloc, Latinos — particularly younger Latino men — shifted toward President Donald Trump in 2024. And two of the three legislative seats picked up by Republicans last year were won by GOP Latino candidates.
Both Hispanic Caucus founders say they represent a new generation of Latino voters who prioritize the economy and affordability over issues like immigration or racial justice.
“There are more and more of us that are second- and third-generation born Californians who care about these middle and working class issues and need champions for them,” Valladares said.
The caucus will focus heavily on affordability, public safety and education.
While Democratic lawmakers have publicly agonized over Trump’s hardline immigration enforcement agenda and its impact on the state’s immigrant communities, Sanchez and Valladares said they’ve heard the opposite message from their constituents.
“They’re more worried about the policies of open borders, letting in drugs, letting in crime, human trafficking, especially our border communities. That is what we’re hearing very loud and clear,” Sanchez said.
In addition to its two founders, five Republicans so far have joined the new caucus: Assembly members Juan Alanis, Jeff Gonzalez, Josh Hoover, Alexandra Macedo, and Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil.
The Hispanic Caucus is currently a nonprofit organization. Valladares and Sanchez are requesting formal recognition by legislative leadership and equal funding to the Latino Caucus, which last year spent around $500,000 on consultants and other staff time, according to the Legislature’s payroll records.