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From children of immigrants to governors: historic victories that broke down barriers
Updated November 4, 2026.
What do California and Texas have in common, besides being the two most populous states in the United States?
With the new terms beginning in 2027, both will be led simultaneously by Latino governors.
Xavier Becerra was declared the winner of the California gubernatorial race. Gina Hinojosa defeated Governor Greg Abbott in Texas. Both grew up in families deeply connected to the Mexican immigrant experience, and their victories broke down barriers that had remained in place for generations.
But this story goes beyond just two names or a single political party.
The 2026 midterm elections brought immigrants, children of immigrants, and representatives from diverse communities into some of the most significant positions in the country.
The question now is inevitable: what do these victories truly mean for Latinos and immigrant families?
The short answer is this:
They do not automatically change immigration law, but they increase representation and create new political opportunities to advance, debate, and oversee decisions that directly affect millions of people.
Xavier Becerra: A historic milestone in California
Xavier Becerra was born in Sacramento and was the first in his family to earn a university degree.
His mother was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and immigrated to the United States. His father was born in Sacramento and spent part of his life growing up in Tijuana.
Before becoming governor, Becerra built an extensive public career: he served as a member of Congress, Attorney General of California, and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
His victory carries special significance.
California had a Latino governor in 1875, when Romualdo Pacheco assumed the office following the resignation of the incumbent. However, Becerra will be the first Latino elected directly by the voters to lead the state.
This is more than just an electoral victory.
California is home to one of the largest Latino and immigrant populations in the country. For this reason, the fact that a person with a family history linked to immigration attains the office of governor carries significant representative value.
You can view the results of the California gubernatorial election and the official biography of Xavier Becerra.
Gina Hinojosa: Texas’s first Latina governor
Gina Hinojosa’s victory was even more unexpected.
Hinojosa was born in the Rio Grande Valley, a border region deeply shaped by Mexican culture and history. Her mother was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States.
Before running for governor, Hinojosa worked as a civil rights and labor attorney, served as president of the Austin school board, and later served in the Texas House of Representatives.
In the 2026 election, she defeated Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who was seeking a fourth term.
With this victory, Hinojosa becomes:
The first Latina governor of Texas.
The first Latina woman to hold the office.
The first Democrat elected governor of Texas since 1990.
Her triumph also carries national significance.
Texas has one of the largest Latino populations in the United States and has been at the center of major debates regarding the border, the enforcement of immigration laws, and state cooperation with federal authorities.
Preliminary results in Texas point to a lead for Hinojosa, though, as is the case with any election, the state’s certification process must still be completed.
The historic victories did not end with the gubernatorial races.
Becerra and Hinojosa were not the only candidates with immigrant family backgrounds to break barriers.
Abdul El-Sayed reaches the Senate
Abdul El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, won Michigan’s seat in the United States Senate.
His election makes him the first Muslim to hold a seat in the Senate. Beyond its religious and cultural significance, her victory brings to the Senate a perspective rooted in an immigrant family and a community that has frequently been the target of prejudice and misinformation.
Melat Kiros heads to the House of Representatives
Melat Kiros, who was born in Ethiopia, won the election to represent Colorado’s 1st Congressional District.
Kiros arrived in the United States with her family and will become the first Gen Z woman elected to Congress.
Her story highlights a different dimension of the migration phenomenon: an individual who arrived in the country as an immigrant and subsequently reached one of its primary legislative bodies.
Bobby Pulido wins in Texas
Tejano singer Bobby Pulido defeated Congresswoman Mónica De La Cruz in Texas’s 15th District.
Pulido is the son of a farmworker who later became a musician. His victory is particularly significant in a district with a predominantly Hispanic population.
These results do not mean that all candidates hold the same views on immigration.
Some advocate for broad reforms; others propose specific changes to how laws are enforced. Furthermore, there are Latino and immigrant leaders across various political parties and ideological currents.
Representation does not imply a monolithic way of thinking.
Why does having greater Latino and immigrant representation matter?
Political representation is not merely a matter of identity.
It can also influence:
The issues that receive attention in legislative bodies.
The experiences shared during hearings.
The oversight exercised over federal agencies.
The bills that are introduced.
The allocation of public funds.
The way in which immigration, the border, and integration are discussed.
According to the NALEO Educational Fund, approximately 36 million Latinos were eligible to vote in 2026.
The Latino community is not a uniform bloc. There are differences based on nationality, citizenship status, generation, region, age, economic situation, and political preference.
Moreover, not all Latinos are immigrants, and not all immigrants are Latino.
Nevertheless, a greater presence of leaders who have personal knowledge of the immigrant experience can help ensure that public debate incorporates realities that were, for years, either ignored or oversimplified.
Do these victories create new opportunities for immigrants?
Yes, but we must define the term “opportunities” accurately.
Elections can open up political opportunities to:
1. Introduce new immigration reform bills
Newly elected members of Congress and the Senate may introduce or support proposals related to:
Dreamers and DACA recipients.
Family reunification.
Legalization processes.
Work visas.
Protection for immigrant workers.
Increasing the number of immigration judges.
Reducing case backlogs.
Reforming the asylum system.
Introducing a bill does not mean it will automatically become law.
2. Oversight of ICE and other federal agencies
Congress can hold hearings, request documents, investigate actions, and review the use of public funds.
This oversight capacity can become particularly significant when there are reports or allegations regarding arrests, raids, conditions in detention centers, or potential violations of due process.
3. Influencing budgets
Congress plays a role in approving funding for ICE, CBP, USCIS, immigration courts, and other agencies.
Budgetary discussions can influence the hiring of judges, the processing of applications, immigration enforcement operations, and assistance programs.
4. Changing state-level policies
Governors cannot grant permanent residency or modify federal immigration categories.
However, they can exert influence over matters such as:
The cooperation of state and local police with ICE.
Access to certain services.
The protection of schools, hospitals, and other state facilities.
Funding for legal guidance or defense.
Professional and driver’s licenses.
Labor and consumer protection policies.
For this reason, the state administrations of California and Texas have a significant political impact, even though their powers do not replace those of the federal government.
What These Elections Did Not Change
This is the part that no immigrant family should overlook.
Election results do not automatically grant:
Permanent residency.
Work authorization.
Citizenship.
Protection from deportation.
Approval of an asylum application.
Cancellation of an immigration order.
Expansion of DACA.
New forms of immigration relief.
The laws, requirements, deadlines, and decisions applicable to each individual case remain in effect unless there is a formal legal or administrative change.
For a federal proposal to become law, it must pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate in an identical version and subsequently be signed by the president. The president also has the power to veto it.
The House of Representatives outlines the legislative process, and the Senate notes that the new Congress will convene on January 3, 2027.
Are the results official yet?
Media outlets may declare a candidate the winner when they determine that the trailing candidate no longer has a mathematical path to overcome the deficit.
However, a media declaration is not the same as an official election certification.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission explains that results released on election night remain preliminary, even when 100% of precincts have reported.
Each state must complete:
The counting of eligible ballots.
The review or canvassing process.
Required audits.
Any potential recounts.
Final certification.
For this reason, any content published immediately following an election should indicate when it was last updated.
From Representation to Real Change
The victories of Xavier Becerra, Gina Hinojosa, Abdul El-Sayed, Melat Kiros, and other candidates demonstrate that the stories of immigrants are no longer confined to spaces outside the centers of power.
They are now present within them as well.
That deserves recognition. However, representation should be evaluated based on more than just surnames, origins, or family histories. It should also be measured by the proposals put forward, the votes cast, the oversight conducted, and the results achieved.
The 2026 elections did not fix the United States’ immigration system.
What they did was alter the landscape in which future decisions will be discussed.
And that could be a significant opportunity—provided that communities maintain realistic expectations, demand results, and continue to stay informed through reliable sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the 2026 elections change immigration law?
No. The election results altered the composition of public offices, but they did not automatically change immigration laws or the requirements applicable to individual cases.
Are Xavier Becerra and Gina Hinojosa immigrants?
Both were born in the United States. Becerra is the son of a Mexican immigrant mother, and Hinojosa is the daughter of a mother born in Mexico who immigrated to the United States.
Can governors stop deportations?
They cannot eliminate federal authority over immigration. However, they can make decisions regarding the use of state resources, the cooperation of local authorities, and certain protections within their jurisdiction.
Does greater Latino representation guarantee immigration reform?
No. An official’s identity does not guarantee a specific political stance. Any reform will depend on concrete proposals, legislative votes, and decisions made by the Executive Branch.
When does the new Congress begin?
Unless another date is established by law, the new Congress will begin on January 3, 2027.
Stay informed and avoid falling for false promises.
An election victory may open new conversations, but your immigration status continues to depend on current law and the specific circumstances of your case.
Follow Viva Migrante and Inmigracion OK Abogados for clear information, community resources, and verified explanations regarding changes that could truly affect immigrant families.
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At Inmigracion OK Abogados, we provide the help you need. We are a law firm with extensive experience in advising people like you on how to establish legal status in the country.
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