Election 2016: 8 Latinos Who Were Elected Into Office

While this election has revealed the true state of America and where we are at racially and politically, we do have a few things to celebrate. Although we are all dealing with the aftermath of Donald Trump winning the presidency over Hilary Clinton, we have been victorious in other spectrums.

Latinos have always been proud, educated and deserving people and now many are showing up and showing out, winning coveted positions throughout the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and State Legislatures. Here are 8 Latinos that won positions in the United States government.

Salud Carbajal has been declared the winner in California's Congressional District 24 seat. With all 448 precincts reporting, Carbajal defeated Justin Fareed with a strong 53.8 percent 46.2 percent in the traditionally Democratic-leaning district. The 51-year-old politician is a three-term Santa Barbara County supervisor and a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve who immigrated to the United States from Mexico at age 5.

Lou Correa has been declared the winner in California's Congressional District 46 seat. The seat opened after incumbent Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez opted to run for the Senate. Correa defeated Democrat Bao Ngyuen by 70 percent to 30 percent with 42 percent of precincts reporting. According to Roll Call, Correa previously served in the state Assembly and state Senate, and currently serves on the board of the California High-Speed Rail Authority. He’s said he will continue to advocate for high-speed rail in Congress.

Darren Soto is now the first Puerto Rican from Florida to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. According to NBC News, Soto defeated Wayne Liebnitzky, who ran for the Republican party. Soto received about 58 percent of the vote and Liebnitzky received about 42 percent — 189,735 to 140,307 respectively. Soto previously held a seat in the state legislature representing the 14th district.

Adriano Espalliat is the first Dominican-American, previously undocumented, to serve in The U.S. House of Representatives. In the Democratic New York City congressional district, Espaillat won 89 percent of the vote, beating Republican challenger Tony Evans, who got 7 percent of the vote in New York's 13th district.

Tony Vargas makes history as the only Latino Serving in Nebraska’s State Legislature. Vargas has devoted his career to public service and advocacy. Currently a member of the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education representing the communities of Downtown and South Omaha, Tony serves more than 52,000 students and 86 schools across the city.

Reuben Kihuen is the first Latino to represent Nevada in the U.S. House of Representatives. Kihuen led Crescent Hardy 49 percent to 45 percent with 46 percent of precincts reporting. Born in Mexico, Ruben and his family immigrated to the United States in search of a better life. Ruben draws inspiration from their hard work as field laborers and maids, remembering the many other families who have shared in the same immigrant experience.

Catherine Cortez Mastro is the first Latina elected to the United States Senate. She defeated Representative Joe Heck to fill the seat of Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic minority leader, who is retiring after three decades in the Senate. The 52-year-old former Nevada attorney general and the granddaughter of a Mexican immigrant, focused her campaign on immigration overhaul and future Supreme Court picks before the Senate.

Nanette Barragán beat opponent in California’s Congressional District 44 and was previously first Latina elected to Hermosa Beach City Council. Barragán has been fighting for children and families since college. She’s helped immigrant families escape violence and kept them together.Barragán has worked as a community advocate in Los Angeles as well as in Washington. She worked in former President Bill Clinton’s White House and then at the NAACP.