Member Biographies

An engineer and first generation American, Rep. Arturo Alonso Sandoval (OK-89) represents south Oklahoma City as one of the youngest elected officials in the legislature.

As a first generation college graduate, Rep. Marcelino Quiñonez (AZ-11), the Minority Whip, has dedicated his career to providing opportunities to the community through his various servant leadership roles.

Representative Alma Hernández (AZ-3) is a healthcare consultant and a professor of healthcare policy and innovation. She led Arizonans United for Healthcare and is a board member at Jewish Family Children’s Services of Southern Arizona. She serves on the Health and Human Services and the Federal Relations committees of the Arizona House.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez is the 2019 awardee of NHCSL’s highest honor, the John S. Martínez Legislator of the Year Award. She chairs the California Latino Legislative Caucus and is the first Latina to chair the California Assembly’s Appropriations Committee.

Senator Carmelo J. Ríos-Santiago is the Immediate Past President of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators. In early 2018, he was elected President of NHCSL after having served as Vice-President for Membership, Parliamentarian and Vice-President. Senator Ríos-Santiago has served in the Puerto Rico Senate since 2005 and is the current Senate Majority Leader.

Delegate Elizabeth Guzmán (VA-31) is the South Region Chair of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators. Prior to her election on December 5, 2019, she served as a me mber of the NHCSL Executive Committee. Delegate Guzmán was elected in 2017 to become the first Hispanic female immigrant to join the 400 year old Virginia General Assembly.

Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (CA-51) immigrated to the United States as a young child during El Salvador’s Civil War. She was a broadcast journalist for twelve years covering human rights, global conflict and US politics. She also worked in communications for SEIU and for a member of the Los Angeles City Council.

Representative Marisabel Cabrera (WI-9) is an entrepreneur, immigration attorney, and former chair of the Latino Caucus of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. An attorney by trade, she’s a member of Voces de la Frontera and currently serves as the chair of the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission.

Representative Victoria Neave (TX-107) was named "Freshman of the Year" by the Texas House Democratic Caucus in 2018 and "Legislator of the Year” by the State Bar of Texas Hispanic Issues Section in 2019. She runs her own law firm, Neave Law PC, where she represents individuals and businesses in civil litigation and employment law.

Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz (NY-39) has the privilege of representing one of the most diverse districts in the nation. Her first legislative session was one of the most progressive in recent New York history. She is an experienced attorney and a leader for tenant protections, immigration reform and workers’ rights. She has led the charge on rent reform.

Rafael Anchía is currently serving his ninth term in the Texas Legislature representing Dallas, Farmers Branch and Irving.He is a co-founder and Managing Director in the global investment firm, Civitas Capital Group; he also serves as Of Counsel at the largest law firm in Dallas, Haynes and Boone.

Assemblywoman Lopez currently serves as Chair of the Housing Committee and member of the Transportation and Independent Authorities and Financial Institutions and Insurance committees respectively. Assemblywoman Lopez also serves as Deputy Speaker and is a member of the New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus.

Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero (NM-13) is the Treasurer of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators. Rep. Roybal Caballero has served in the New Mexico State Legislature since 2013. Rep. Roybal Caballero previously served as National Treasurer of LULAC (2015-2018), the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the U.S., founded in 1929.

State Representative Pedro "Pete" Marin is the Dean of Gwinnett, Georgia legislators having served in public office for almost two decades. He served in NHCSL's Executive Committee from 2006 to 2019, including serving as NHCSL's Vice President for Public Policy from 2014 to early 2018.

Senator Cristina Castro (IL-22) is the Midwest Region Chair of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators. Prior to her election on December 5, 2019, she served as a member of the NHCSL Executive Committee. Senator Castro has served in the Illinois Senate since 2017.

Assemblyman Víctor M. Pichardo (NY-86) started his career in politics as Staff Assistant to Senator Chuck Schumer and was eventually promoted to Community Outreach Coordinator/Latino Liaison. After a stint in education Victor became the Director of Community Affairs for State Senator Gustavo Rivera in the Bronx. He currently serves as Vice Chair of NHCSL's delegation to the Quad Caucus.

Senator Nellie Pou (NJ-35) is the President-Elect of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators. Her two-year term as President is slated to begin at the end of 2021. Prior to her election as President-Elect on December 5, 2019, she served as NHCSL's East Region Chair. Sen. Pou has served in the New Jersey State Legislature since 1997 and Sen. Pou has chaired the New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus since 2006.