Seven Brazilians elected to US state legislatures

Seven Brazilian citizens, all affiliated with the Democratic Party, were elected or re-elected to state legislatures across four US states during the midterm elections. The winners include Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, who became the first Brazilian to serve in the Florida House of Representatives, winning in a traditionally Republican-leaning district.

In Massachusetts, which hosts a large Brazilian community, four individuals secured seats: Priscila Sousa, Rita Mendes, Danillo Sena, and Lorena Betts. In Connecticut, Farley Santos was re-elected to his third term, and in Nevada, Elaine Marzola secured her third consecutive term.

Many of the elected officials highlighted their immigrant backgrounds and personal histories of overcoming economic hardship. For instance, Sousa-Lazaballet, who arrived in the US at age 14 and previously lived without legal documentation, emphasized his commitment to immigrant rights and LGBTQIA+ advocacy. Re-elected representative Rita Mendes noted that the current US immigration system is broken and called for federal legislative reform. The group of winners represents a diverse range of origins, including individuals from Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, and Mato Grosso.