Directory of
Latino Elected Officials
in New York State
Compiled by Michael Fondacaro, with the assistance of Jackie Hayes
New York Latino Research and Resources Network (NYLARNET) (Spring 2011)
To download a copy, click here
Currently, there are 134 Latino elected officials in New York State. Sixty-two percent of Latino elected officials are concentrated in the following seven counties; Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Suffolk, and Westchester.
Two Latino elected officials are serving in Federal positions; Congresswomen Nydia Velázquez and Congressman José Serrano, meaning that Latinos comprise 6.9% of New York's Congressional members. Currently Latinos are 16% of New York's total population.
In the New York State Legislature, there are 6 Latino Senators and 14 Latino Assembly members. In New York City, Latinos hold 11 positions in the New York City Council (21.6%) and are 27.4% of the total population.
The majority of Latino elected officials (83%) serve in local positions.
Although Latinas make up 51% of the total Latino population, they hold only 47 elected positions or 35% of the total, whereas Latinos hold 87 positions or 64%. Of the 47 elected positions held by Latinas, 94% are local positions. Of the 87 elected positions held by Latinos, 83% are local positions and 17% are State Legislative or Congressional positions.
Overall, there are disparities in representation at every level of government, but they are more dramatic in higher levels of government, including Legislative and Congressional positions. Latinas are more significantly underrepresented than Latinos and hold only 3 Legislative and 1 Congressional elected positions.