Washington D.C. – Today, PODERPAC, the nation's only PAC focused on increasing the number of Latinas elected to the U.S. Congress, is announcing the endorsement of four Latinas running for Congress three in the House of Representatives and one in the US Senate, marking the PAC’s first endorsements of the 2020 election cycle.

PODERPAC is proud to announce the endorsements of Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Candace Valenzuela (TX-24), Georgette Gomez (CA-53) and Cristina Tzinzun Ramirez (US Senate, TX) four strong, remarkable candidates that are leading the way for the next generation of Latina lawmakers in the US Congress. More information on these candidates and their respective congressional races can be found below.

PODERPAC chair and co-founder, Ingrid Duran, expressed her eager anticipation for these candidates in the following statement: “We are thrilled to announce our first four endorsements for 2020, these four fabulous Latinas exemplify the qualities we seek in our candidates. We know they will be great additions to the CHC.”

Teresa Leger Fernandez, NM-03

Teresa is running to retain New Mexico’s 3rd District, a district that has never before been represented by a Woman in Congress. A longtime Democratic stronghold, New Mexico’s 3rd district will be an open seat in 2020 and will see a competitive Democratic primary following the announcement of incumbent Congressman and Assistant Speaker of the House, Ben Ray Lujan’s intention to run for U.S. Senate.

Upon hearing of PODERPAC’s endorsement of her campaign, Teresa released the following statement: "PODER PAC's endorsement is a statement of solidarity from my Latina hermanas. I will honor the confidence embodied in the endorsement by being a strong voice for equity and justice. PODER and I share a deep commitment that Congress should reflect our communities, but that government should not interfere with a woman's right to make deeply personal decisions about her health, family, and future. When we come together to respect and create equal opportunity for all women, we build stronger communities for us all."

You can learn more about Teresa, her priorities and how you can support her campaign by visiting her website: https://www.teresaforall.com/

​Candace Valenzuela, TX-24

Candace is now running to flip Texas’ 24th district and with any luck, contribute to a blue-wave forming across Texas in 2020. Though held by a Republican since 2005, Texas’ 24th has recently shown its ability to swing, with a near-miss to unseat the Republican incumbent during the 2018 midterms despite Democratic Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke carrying the seat by 3 points during the same cycle. Candace and other democrats vying for this seat also received an early advantage following the early withdrawal of incumbent Rep. Kenny Marchant from his re-election bid.

In response to this endorsement announcement, Candace released the following statement: "PODER PAC understands the importance of supporting strong Latina candidates and I am so grateful for their support. Having the resources and message to turn out the Latino vote in 2020 is the only way to turn Texas blue and take back our Democracy."

You can learn more about Candace, her priorities and how you can support her campaign by visiting her website: https://candacefor24.com/

Georgette Gomez, CA-53
  
 Georgette is running to represent California’s 53rd district, a safe democratic seat that consists of large portions of San Diego county. Heading into the 2020 election, California’s 53rd district will be an open seat, following the announcement earlier this year that longtime incumbent Susan Davis will not be seeking re-election. Since announcing her campaign in September, Georgette has quickly risen to the top of a crowded and competitive democratic primary, emerging as one of Davis’ most likely successors.

Georgette said the following in response to the PODER PAC endorsement: "I am thrilled to receive the endorsement of our campaign from PODER PAC, one of the leading organizations for the advancement of women of color. Women of color are not just a key constituency for the Democratic Party, they are an integral part of our country, and they have been marginalized for far too long. I am extremely proud to receive the support of PODER, and I am excited to be able to work together to keep lifting voices for women of color across the country."

You can learn more about Georgette, her priorities and how you can support her campaign by visiting her website: https://georgettegomez.org/

Cristina Tzinzun Ramirez, US Senate, TX

Cristina is running to represent Texas in the United States Senate. Hoping to become the eventual democratic nominee, Christina is anticipating a competitive match-up against three-term incumbent, Senator John Cornyn. Heading into the 2020 elections, political observers have regularly identified Cornyn as one of the Senate's most vulnerable incumbents, quickly marking this race as a frontline in the battle to win back a democratic majority in the Senate. Christina, having picked up many of Beto O'Rourke's former top strategists from his near-miss campaign against Ted Cruz, is well positioned to build off the momentum from the high-water mark his campaign set in 2016 and deliver Texas its first democratic Senator in nearly 30 years.

Upon learning of PODER PAC's endorsement, Christina said the following: “I am honored to be endorsed by PODER PAC because they recognize the power of Latina voices, which for a long time have been left out or ignored in the national conversation. In Texas and all over the country, Latinas are taking the lead in getting themselves out to vote and mobilizing their families and communities as well. And now we are running to represent our communities in elected office. In 2016, the U.S. elected its first Latina Senator. In 2018, Texas elected its first two Latina Congresswomen.”

"PODER PAC has been doing incredible work to achieve these milestones by helping to elect progressive Latinas and making our Congress more representative of the diversity of our country. Together with PODER PAC and building on the power of Latinas doing grassroots work all over the country, I hope to give the U.S. Senate its first Latina Senator from Texas.”

You can learn more about Christina, her priorities and how you can support her campaign by visiting her website: https://cristinafortexas.com/

About PODERPAC:
Following a fundamental restructuring for the 2016 election cycle, PODERPAC became the first and only PAC focused on increasing the numbers of Latinas in Congress. Today, PODERPAC aims to connect Latina candidates running for Congress with the tools necessary to create winning campaigns; linking candidates to a national fundraising network and helping build more effective campaign operations as early in the race as possible.

Juanita Perez WIlliams, NY-24 Syracuse, New York 
Juanita served as a Lt. Commander in the Navy as a JAG officer and served as a New York Assistant Attorney General. Learn more about Juanita and her race. 
Juanita Perez Williams, NY-24

Sol Flores. IL-4 Chicago Illinois
Sol was the founding Executive Director of La Casa Norte working to help Chicago families escape homelessness. Learn more about Sol and her race
Sol Flores IL-4

Xochitl Torres Small, NM-2 Las Cruces New Mexico
Xochitl is a lawyer who grew up in Las Cruces and saw first hand the challenges facing New Mexico. She has worked on behalf of the residents of Las Cruces for most of her career. Learn more about Xochitl and her race. 
​Xochitl Torres Small NM-2

Sylvia Garcia, TX-29 Houston, Texas
Help elect the first Latina to Congress from Texas. Learn more about Sylvia and her race. 
Sylvia Garcia TX-29 

Jana Lynne Sanchez, TX-6
Help us flip this seat from Red to Blue. Learn more about Jana Lynne and her race. 
​Jana Lynne Sanchez TX-6

Virginia Madueno, CA-10 northern SanJoaquin Valley, California
Help us flip this seat from ​Red to Blue. Learn more about Virginia and her race:
​Virginia Madueno CA-10 

Juana Matias, MA-3 northeastern and central, Massachusetts
Help us elect the first Latina immigrant from Massachusetts to Congress. Learn more about Juana and her race: Juana Matias MA-3

Veronica Escobar, TX-16 El Paso, Texas
Help us make history by electing the first Latina to serve in Congress from Texas. Learn more about Veronica and her race:  VERONICA ESCOBAR TX-16

Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, NM-1 Albuquerque, New Mexico
She has been actively involved in the community and was a law professor at UNM for the last 27 years. Learn more about Antoinette and her race:
​ANTOINETTE SEDILLO LOPEZ NM-1

Newly, Restructured PAC Endorses Five Candidates for the 2016 Cycle

Washington, DC – PODERPAC announced today the five Latinas running for the US Congress that will be endorsed by the only PAC run by and created for Latinas running for Congress. These include:

Nanette Barragan CA-44

Lucy Flores NV-4


Ana Sol Gutierrez MD-8

Joseline Pena Melnyk MD-4

Annette Taddeo FL-26


“Latina Democrats currently hold only seven seats in Congress, and in the history of the U.S. Senate, there has never been a Latina senator. It is time to break these glass ceilings,” said PODERPAC Founding Honorary Board Member Congresswoman Linda Sánchez. “I am so proud of these strong women who have the courage to run for elected office and would fight for American families." READ MORE


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Washington, DC – Today PODERPAC, the nation's only PAC focused on increasing thenumber of Latinas elected to the U.S. Congress, endorsed two Latinas running for the U.S. Senate.

Catherine Cortez Masto | Nevada

Loretta Sanchez | California
Catherine Cortez Masto and Loretta Sanchez represent distinct opportunities to become the first-ever Latina Senators in the history of the U.S. Senate. Their campaigns act as a catalyst to directly address the lack of Latinas in the Senate and disproportionate makeup of Latinas in U.S. politics.
 “Latina Democrats currently hold only seven seats in Congress, and in the history of the U.S. Senate, there has never been a Latina Senator. It is time to break these glass ceilings,” said PODERPAC Founding Honorary Board Member Congresswoman Linda Sánchez. “I am so proud of these strong women who have the courage to run for elected office and will fight for American families." READ MORE

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Choco was a Latina powerhouse, trailblazer and a staunch advocate for the Latino community, Women and Democrats. A Charter Member of PODER PAC, Choco wholeheartedly understood and supported the mission of building a bench of Latina candidates.

She left this world far too early, but certainly made a tremendous impact while she was here. We pay tribute to her memory and work and will miss her dearly.

Rest in Peace Our Dear Friend and Sister.

Love, The PODER PAC Board
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