Washington, D.C. – Despite making significant strides in the last decade, Latinas remain one of the most underrepresented groups in elected office. Only nine Latinas serve in the U.S. Congress, and just four of the 748 state executive offices across the country are held by Latinas. Latino Victory Fund is working to change that. Last month, the organization helped Texans Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia come one step closer to becoming the first Latinas to represent the Lone Star state in Congress.

Today, Latino Victory launched “Year of the Latina” to foster excitement among Latina voters and elect a record number of progressive Latinas this November. As part of this effort, Latino Victory has endorsed congressional candidates Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Virginia Madueño, Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, and Xochitl Torres Small; and Arizona Attorney General candidate January Contreras. To empower Latinas running for office, Latino Victory will increase the number female candidates it supports and make endorsements in competitive races with viable Latina candidates.

“Faced with an anti-woman, anti-Latino Trump Administration, Latinas are answering this generation’s call for courageous leadership,” said Mayra Macias, political director for Latino Victory Fund. “These five candidates embody Latina values; they are strong, hard-working, and deeply dedicated to their communities. Together, we’ll work to ensure that Latinas have a seat at the table at every level of government.”

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is running to represent Florida’s 26th Congressional District and cites Republican incumbent Carlos Curbelo’s vote to repeal Americans’ health care as her impetus to run. Mucarsel-Powell immigrated to the United States from Ecuador as a child after the tragic loss of her father to gun violence. She watched her mother struggle to provide for her and her young siblings and began working at age fifteen to help her family make ends meet. Her early experiences with economic instability have informed her commitment to health care, living wages, quality public education, and gun reform. Mucarsel-Powell has spent nearly two decades bolstering efforts to improve the lives of Miami families.

Virginia Madueño is the former mayor of Riverbank, California, and the first Latina ever to hold that office. A daughter of Mexican immigrants, Madueño has dedicated her career to improving access to public services for underserved communities. As a business owner, she understands the role small businesses play in creating well-paying jobs and made them a priority as mayor. Madueño is challenging Republican Congressman Jeff Denham to represent California’s 10th Congressional District.

Antoinette Sedillo Lopez is a retired law professor and longtime advocate for the rights of communities of color. She currently runs Enlace Comunitario, a non-profit organization that supports immigrant women who have experienced domestic violence and one of the many organizations she has founded to help underserved populations. Sedillo Lopez is part of the groundswell of progressives running for Congress to stop President Trump’s dangerous policies. She announced her intention to run for New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District after Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham launched her gubernatorial campaign.

Xochitl Torres Small is looking to make history as the first Latina to represent New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District. A native of Las Cruces, Torres Small previously served as field representative in Senator Tom Udall’s southern New Mexico district office. Inspired by the work of serving constituents, Torres Small attended law school and now works with local governments and farmers to protect the environment. She hopes to continue serving New Mexicans as their next congresswoman.

January Contreras has spent her career defending Arizona families, most notably as a Senior Adviser in the Department of Homeland Security under President Obama. Before joining DHS, she served as a prosecutor for Maricopa County and an Assistant Attorney General for Arizona, where she brought white collar criminals to justice and prosecuted elder abuse. Contreras is challenging Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich, who has been called “Arizona’s Donald Trump” for his anti-immigrant stances.