COMMENTARY: Latino leadership in the U.S. Congress

U.S. Congressman Tony Cárdenas, who represents California’s 29th district, announced Monday he won’t seek re-election.

Rep. Cárdenas, 60, was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2013.

“It’s been my honor to humbly serve my community – the incredible people of the Northeast San Fernando Valley – during my 28 years of public service,” Cárdenas said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter.) “I’m grateful for the community’s trust and support to represent them in the California State legislature, on the Los Angeles City Council and the last 11 years as the Congressman of the 29th District.” 

His district includes North Hollywood, Pacoima, Reseda, San Fernando and more. Rep. Cárdenas has a long history in political office. He was first elected to the California State Assembly in 1996. He went on to serve three terms in the assembly and was later elected to the Los Angeles City Council, in 2003.  

“From an early age, my Mexican parents, Andrés and María Cárdenas, taught me and my 10 brothers and sisters some simple and yet profound values such as ‘there is no greater joy than to serve others,’” he said. 

California Sen. Alex Padilla lauded Cárdenas in a statement.

“Tony Cárdenas stepped up to run for office at a time when Latinos didn’t see ourselves represented in positions of power. His decision to enter public service and his approach to politics opened the door for many others to follow, including many who couldn’t have imagined running for office, including myself,” Padilla said. “I’ve been lucky to have a front row seat to Tony’s career ever since Tony took a chance on me to manage his longshot campaign for State Assembly in 1996. I didn’t know the first thing about managing a campaign, but when Tony asked, I said yes, knowing his values and his commitment to our community. All these years later, that has never changed. His impact stretches beyond his many legislative achievements, as a champion for the hardworking families in the San Fernando Valley. I’ll truly miss his partnership in Congress.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised Cárdenas, who was elected in 2014 chairman of Bold PAC, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ campaign operation. Under Cárdenas,the political action committee nearly doubled its fundraising.

“While Tony is the first Latino to represent the San Fernando Valley, he has made it his mission not to be the last. As a leader within the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, he’s been instrumental in increasing the number of Latinos serving in Congress to a record level,” Jeffries said in a statement.

Cárdenas is reportedly backing Luz Rivas, a state Assemblymember, who told The Los Angeles Times she would run to replace him.

Meanwhile, California Congressman Pete Aguilar, the highest-ranking Latino member of Congress, called for indicted U.S. Sen. Robert Menéndez (D-New Jersey) to resign. 

“Latinos face barriers and discrimination across the board in so many categories, including in our justice system. This is not that. It would be best if he resigned. It doesn’t bring me or any of us joy to say that he should resign. But he should for the betterment of the Democratic Party. For the people of New Jersey. It’s better that he fights this trial outside of the halls of Congress,” Aguilar said at a press conference on Capitol Hill.

Sen. Menéndez of New Jersey who was recently indicted on federal bribery charges. Menéndez vehemently denies any wrongdoing and has even claimed that he is being persecuted for his ethnicity, an allegation that Aguilar dismisses.

 “What we read in the indictment and the charges, we should not conflate the discrimination and the issues and the barriers that Latinos have in the justice system and across industries,” Aguilar said.

Aguilar, who represents San Bernardino and other portions of Southern California’s Inland Empire, is chair of the House Democratic Caucus, a powerful leadership position that Menéndez himself held some two decades ago when he was in the House. Aguilar is the most prominent Latino legislator to call for the highest-ranking Latino in the Senate to leave office. 

Aguilar’s comments are rare, as it is highly unusual for Latino members of Congress to openly criticize one of their own. 

CHC chair Rep. Nanette Barragán, who represents the 44th District which includes Carson, Paramount, Lynwood and other Los Angeles County communities, has remained silent on the issue and both Menéndez and his son Rep. Robert Menéndez Jr. are active CHC members.

The indictment against Menéndez and his wife, Nadine, alleges that the pair accepted bribes in exchange for the senator working on behalf of several New Jersey businessmen and the government of Egypt while the senator was chair of the Foreign Relations Committee. Among the items found at Menéndez’s home during a federal raid were gold bars and cash stuffed in envelopes and in a jacket that had a Congressional Hispanic Caucus insignia. 

Just several weeks ago the elder Menéndez with Barragán and other CHC members signed onto a letter urging the Biden administration to stop the practice of interviewing asylum seekers without the presence of counsel, and introduced legislation to overhaul the federal government’s care and custody of unaccompanied noncitizen minors. 

“The senator is going to continue to do the job he’s been doing, not just for the broader American progressive agenda but specifically for the work that we’ve been doing (on advocating for Latino issues),” said the Latino consultant. “It’s unfortunate but it’s a process and he’s going to see that process through and continue to serve not just New Jersey but all the Latino community around the country. He has a strong voice and a very impressive history in public service and I expect that he’ll be doing that throughout this whole legal process.”

In a statement, Menéndez – who is up for reelection next year– reiterated what he said when he was indicted – and plead not guilty – that he “wasn’t going anywhere” and vowed to fight the charges. “I’m used to tough fights and next year won’t be any different,” Menéndez said, referring to several who have announced primary challenges to wrest the seat from him. 

Kristian Ramos of Solidarity Strategies in Washington, D.C., told CALÓ News that it would be a major loss for the community to lose a Latino in the Senate, especially someone with so much seniority and experience.

“Robert Menéndez is a foundational figure in the Latino political class. He’s somebody who’s been there from the beginning, somebody who has helped so many people, and in the Senate he is the lynchpin of so many issues that matter the most to our community. He’s like the Professor X of Latino politicos. (Professor X is a character appearing in Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as the founder and occasional leader of the X-Men). For a lot of people he is a living legend. A lot of people owe their careers to him,” says Ramos, adding, “It’s very sad what’s going on. We need Latinos in the Senate. He is one of the best. He has earned the right to have a day in court and to defend himself.”

This isn’t the first go-around for Menéndez. He was indicted in 2015 on similar charges but the charges were dropped after a jury deadlocked. Interestingly, Menéndez at the time no Democratic legislators called for him to step down. The fact that the Republican governor at the time – Chris Christie — would have appointed a Republican to replace Menéndez likely played a big part. This second indictment is happening with a Democratic governor whose own wife is considering a primary run against Menéndez, and it is considered a safe Democratic seat.