Andrea Salinas Wins Oregon House Primary and Is on Her Way to Making History

Andrea Salinas BELatina Latinx
Image courtesy of Andrea Salina’s campaign.

The tension begins in the run-up to the November midterm elections, and Latino candidates are already making history.

Oregon state Rep. Andrea Salinas won last week’s Democratic primary for Congress, beating a better-funded opponent backed by the bulk of the party.

Salinas faced eight other candidates to become the first Democrat to appear on the general election ballot for the new district.

If she wins the election in November, Salinas will be the first Latina elected to Congress from Oregon.

The daughter of Mexican immigrants who arrived in the country in 1950, Andrea Salinas grew up in a humble home. She attended UC Berkeley and has dedicated her professional life to serving others.

Salinas was a legislative aide to Senator Harry Reid, Congressman Pete Stark, and Congresswoman Darlene Hooley. She served as legislative director for the Oregon Environmental Council, had her own legislative consulting practice, and was vice president in Oregon for Strategies 360, a political consulting firm.

In September 2017, Salinas was appointed to fill the vacancy in Oregon House District 38 created when Ann Lininger was appointed to the Clackamas County Circuit Court. Salinas completed Lininger’s term and was re-elected in 2018 and 2020. In the 2021 legislative session, she served in the House Democratic Caucus leadership as majority whip.

“I’m running for Congress because my daughter – and every Oregonian – deserves leaders who will work hard day in and day out to make their lives better,” Salinas explains on her campaign website. “And I think Washington could learn a thing or two from what we’ve done in Oregon about the power of finding common ground, working hard, and actually delivering on the issues that matter most to families: affordable health care, a fair economy, and an environment that is protected and cherished for generations to come.”

As NBC News explained, Andrea Salinas’ victory would boost Latino Democrats who have publicly clashed with the House Majority PAC of the Democratic leadership over their support in the race of political newcomer Carrick Flynn.

“I am ready to win this seat in November and work hard to expand access to abortion care, tackle the climate crisis, and lower the cost of prescription drugs,” Salinas said in a statement Tuesday night.

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