Back in July, we joked about la reconquista after the Census Bureau revealed that Latinos now outnumber gringos in California. Now, we’re starting to see this shift reflected in the state’s elected officials: As of Tuesday, two Mexican-Americans lead California’s legislative body.
It’s the first time Latinos fill both positions simultaneously, according to Fox News Latino. Anthony Rendon got sworn in as the state’s Assembly speaker on Tuesday, making him the fifth Latino to hold this position. Kevin de León is the first Latino to serve as the Senate President Pro Tem – a position he’s held since October 2014.
“This is a very exciting time in the Golden State,” Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, told Fox News Latino. “We can all be very proud. These are two Latinos who have had very humble origins and have demonstrated to be outstanding leaders.”
Alejo believes the two will make helping minorities easier. After the swearing-in ceremony, Rendon said he’d work on giving opportunities to low-income individuals.