THREE WOMEN TO CELEBRATE during Hispanic Heritage Month and MAKE SURE WE ELECT TO CONGRESS in November.

For DR. YADIRA CARAVEO (CO – 08), becoming a pediatrician, an accomplished state legislator, and a successful advocate for children all started with her parents’ dream.  They came to Colorado from Mexico with little education or money looking for a better life – but knew that hard work and caring for others are values that build strong communities and family.

Dr. Caraveo knew from an early age that she wanted to help people as a doctor. After attending public schools and completing her undergraduate education, she continued on to medical school at the University of Colorado and became the first physician in her family. Even before she finished her medical training, Dr. Caraveo helped organize her fellow medical residents for better working conditions, becoming a union representative with SEIU. Dr. Caraveo has worked with the ​​Union of Concerned Scientists to enlist doctors across the country in the fight against climate change, and President Obama recognized her as a Champion of Change for her efforts.

Dr. Caraveo proudly serves a Latino community whose families are often unable to find providers who speak their language and understand their culture. She quickly understood that the best way to help the most people is through the community, state, and national movements that advocate for the needs of the underserved, and so she ran for the Colorado General Assembly in 2018 and won. Despite a heavy workload advocating for Coloradans at the state capitol, Dr. Caraveo still works as a pediatrician, and even added extra weekend hours in order to see her patients while the legislature is in session during the week.

As a pediatrician in a community where 65% of her patients’ families are on Medicaid, Dr. Caraveo is deeply committed to expanding access to affordable quality health care. In Congress, she will continue her commitment to the families she sees every day in Colorado, building on her work to lower health care costs, address the high cost of housing, combat climate change, fight for reproductive justice, and stop Republicans from taking away Americans’ right to vote. As a pediatrician, a state legislator, and the daughter of immigrants, she will bring invaluable lived experience to Washington.

Dr. Caraveo is running for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, newly created due to the state’s population gains in the past decade. Colorado has never before elected a Latina to Congress, and Dr. Caraveo has what it takes to make history as the first. More than 38% of residents in this new district identify as Hispanic, and her years of service and deep ties make her the best candidate to give this community a powerful new voice in Washington. Let’s show Dr. Yadira Caraveo our full support and help elect this champion for Coloradans to Congress in this must-win new district.

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Illinois state REP. DELIA RAMIRIZ  ( IL- 03), a lifelong Chicagoan, is an experienced social service administrator, community organizer, and policy advocate running for Congress to give her community a powerful new voice in Washington. The daughter of immigrants, Ramirez is the first Guatemalan American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly. She has dedicated her career to fighting for solutions to complex issues like housing, education, and criminal justice. Ramirez, a graduate of Northeastern Illinois University, has served as the founding executive director of the Center for Changing Lives, board chair for both the Latin United Community Housing Association and Logan Square Neighborhood Association. In 2018, Ramirez was elected to represent her home community in the Illinois House of Representatives, and now serves as assistant majority leader. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Boris and her golden retriever, Lola. 

Ramirez has an outstanding record of delivering for the Illinois families she serves, and she is running to be their tireless champion in Congress. In the Illinois House, Ramirez’s legislative priorities have included housing, health care, and child welfare. Making housing a top priority in the state, her leadership has led to the expansion of homeless prevention programs and $200 million in capital investments to build affordable housing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she has filed and passed emergency housing legislation to protect those at risk of losing their homes by expanding eviction protections, as well as providing rental assistance and mortgage release. She was the lead sponsor of legislation to expand Medicaid coverage to include seniors ages 65 and over regardless of their immigration status, making Illinois the first state in the nation to provide health care coverage to undocumented seniors. A fierce advocate for child welfare, she has led the work of the Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents. Ramirez is an experienced leader and a skilled legislator who is ready to fight for policies that help grow our economy, create more good-paying jobs, and move our country forward at this critical juncture.  

Ramirez is running for Illinois’ newly redrawn 3rd Congressional District. No Midwestern state has ever before elected a Latina to Congress, and Ramirez has what it takes to make history as the first. “I’m rooted and ready,” she has said. Ramirez is the best candidate to win the competitive race for this open seat and to fight for her community and defend our democracy in Congress. Let’s show Delia Ramirez our full support and help elect this champion for Illinois women and families to Congress in this must-win newly redrawn district.

ANDREA SALINAS (OR – 06) is a state representative, former congressional aide, and mother running to represent Oregon’s 6th Congressional District. Salinas’ father is a Mexican immigrant and Vietnam war veteran, and she credits him with teaching her what it means to fight for your kids and for a better life. Salinas was the first person in her family to graduate from a four-year university, after which she began her career in politics. She worked as a congressional staffer for over a decade and then became an advocate for unions, environmental groups, and reproductive rights. She has served as a state representative for three terms, taking on several leadership roles, including House majority whip and chair of the House Health Care Committee. Salinas' experience sets her apart as the best candidate to represent Oregon's 6th Congressional District.

Salinas is a dedicated reproductive rights champion who has fought tenaciously to advance justice and opportunity across Oregon for the past two decades. She has experience successfully delivering progressive victories, from her time as a congressional aide to her time in the Oregon State Legislature. Salinas helped Oregon pass the strongest reproductive rights law in the country, ensuring that Oregonians can access the full suite of reproductive health care, regardless of race, ethnicity, documentation status, or zip code. She comes from a union family and knows the struggles working families face, which is why she stood up for worker’s rights in the Oregon State Legislature. Salinas is ready to continue her successful advocacy for unions and working families, for the environment, and for affordable health care in Congress.

Salinas won the Democratic nomination for Oregon’s 6th Congressional District, a newly drawn seat after Oregon gained another seat in the House of Representatives. She is poised to become the first Latina elected to Congress in Oregon. Salinas will face off against Republican Mike Erickson. We know this distinguished leader has what it takes to win this newly drawn seat. Let’s throw our full support behind her to ensure this historic candidate is elected.