As the United States grows increasingly more diverse, a number of politicians from minority backgrounds have gained national prominence. Few Americans will forget Election Day 2008, when Barack Obama because the nation’s first black president. His presidency has led other people of color to climb the political ranks, including Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. President Obama also named Ray LaHood, a Lebanese American, as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Other politicians have come to prominence in conservative circles such as Cuban-American Senator Marco Rubio. No matter which side of the partisan aisle such politicians walk on, it’s clear that the Democratic and Republican parties alike are producing rising stars from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

•Latino Politicians

Given that Latinos are now the largest minority group in the United States, it’s no surprise that a new generation of Hispanic politicians have risen to national prominence. Buoyed by challenges to immigration reform, the Latino electorate has flexed its muscle and voted in Hispanic politicians such as San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro who have been advocates for the Hispanic community. A number of right-wing Hispanic politicians have gained prominence as well, most notably U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and U.S. Ted Cruz of Texas.More »

•Sonia Sotomayor

Sonia Sotomayor was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1954. Of Puerto Rican descent, she was raised largely by her mother, as her father died when she was a child. Despite growing up in a housing project, Sonia Sotomayor attended private school, eventually ending up at Princeton University. She followed her Ivy League education up by pursuing a career in law. She first served as a judge in the 1990s. Until 2009, Sonia Sotomayor was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. In May of that year, Barack Obama nominated her to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. After a trying nomination process, Sonia Sotomayor became the first Latina to sit in the court after her confirmation on Aug. 8, 2009.More »

•Barack Obama

Barack Obama first began to gain national attention when he spoke at the 2004 Democratic Convention. The nation was captivated by his speech urging for unity and downplaying divisions that suggested that the United States could be split into red states and blue states. Arguably the breakout star of the convention, Obama’s career continued to build steam when he won the U.S. senatorial race in Illinois that same year, making him one of the few African American to serve as a U.S. senator since Reconstruction. Four years later the junior senator would defeat rival Hillary Clinton in the primaries to win the Democratic presidential nomination. From there, he would defeat U.S. Sen. John McCain from Arizona to become the nation’s first black president. After winning a second term in office, Barack Obama’s race continues to cause tensions. Rather than ease race relations, Obama’s presidency has reportedly heightened racial tensions.More »

•Arab Americans

Arab Americans have long held influential positions in politics. In 1958, George Kasem became the first Arab-American representative of the U.S. House. During President Bill Clinton’s two terms in office, Donna Shalala, a Lebanese-American served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. For decades activist Ralph Nader has arguably been one of the main influences of progressive politics, advocating for consumers and launching three presidential campaigns. In the 21st century Arab Americans continue to make an imprint on national politics, with Darrell Issa serving as a California congressman and Ray LaHood serving as U.S. Secretary of Transportation for the Obama administration.More »

•Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris became California’s first attorney general of African-American or Indian-American heritage after successfully defeating her opponent Steve Cooley in the 2010 election. Harris was born to a black father and a Tamil Indian mother. Kamala Harris is also the first woman to serve as California’s attorney general. Before making the groundbreaking leap to attorney general, Harris serves as San Francisco’s district attorney. There, she made a name for herself by pursuing the parents of truant students and doubling down on gun felonies. As attorney general, Kamala Harris has advocated for the rights of homeowners, challenged human trafficking and pursued companies for inflating prescription drug prices, to name a few.More »