“Our Lives Are on the Line”: Latina Lawmakers Call Out Attacks on Rights This Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month usually sparks celebrations of culture and pride. This year, Latina lawmakers say it also calls for urgency. With reproductive rights, health care, and immigrant protections facing renewed attacks, these leaders are stepping forward to remind their communities that silence is not an option.

The data underscores the moment: Latinas now hold 214 state legislative seats, the highest number ever recorded, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. Their growing political power meets a climate of escalating threats, and they say their voices are more urgent than ever.

Latina lawmakers are warning that democracy itself is at stake

For Texas State Representative Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos, the stakes could not be clearer. “We Latinas are in a uniquely powerful position at this moment,” she said. “Our minority communities are frontlines for this battle, most affected by the Trump regime’s attacks on our reproductive rights, on our strained healthcare system, and, of course, on our immigrant communities. We cannot afford to let our democracy fade away without fighting and making as much noise as possible. Because it’s not just our democracy that risks dying, our lives are quite literally on the line.”

She pointed to the power of collective pressure, both in protests and at the ballot box. “The only thing that elected officials react to is extreme public pressure, both through the ballot box and from constituents on the streets,” Rodríguez Ramos explained. “Our most powerful tool is our collective public voice; we cannot let this regime silence our struggle.”

Latina lawmakers in Arizona are calling for unity

Arizona State Senator Analise Ortiz sees today’s struggles as part of a long continuum. “Latinas have long led the charge against oppressive policies in the State of Arizona and across the globe,” she said. For Ortiz, unity is the key to survival. “We must look to each other, our inner strength, and our ancestors to continue paving the way forward. We are stronger united against authoritarianism.”

Her message to the next generation is equally direct: “Do not be afraid to stand in your power and hold the line against the relentless attacks on human rights, bodily autonomy, and democracy. We have a duty to fight for freedom and build the world our communities deserve.”

Families are at the center of this fight

Illinois State Representative Barbara Hernandez said the attacks are deeply personal. “As a Latina leader, it is heartbreaking to see the current wave of attacks on reproductive rights, health care, and immigrant communities, because at the core these are attacks on families,” she said.

But heartbreak does not mean surrender. “It is also motivating, because it reminds us that we cannot back down. We must fight even harder: fight for our rights as women, and fight for our families and the next generation,” Hernandez said.

Her call to voters highlights everyday leadership: “My message to Latina voters and young women is that our voices matter, and our power is greater than we sometimes realize. Beyond voting, it’s just as important that we volunteer, get involved, and ensure our elected officials hear our concerns. Don’t be afraid to bring the kids! They will see their beautiful and powerful mother, aunt, cousin, etc., fighting for them!”

Latina lawmakers want voters to remember their power

California State Assemblymember Mia Bonta connected today’s battles to a long lineage of resistance. “Our struggles are deeply interconnected,” she said. “Right now, reproductive freedom, affordable health care, immigrant rights, and even the foundations of our democracy are under attack. These efforts are designed to silence our voices and leave our communities more vulnerable. But history shows that Latinas never back down; we stand on the front lines of the fight. From Dr. Helen Rodríguez Trías fighting for reproductive justice, to Dolores Huerta organizing for workers’ rights, to Justice Sonia Sotomayor defending our democracy, we have always risen to the moment.”

Bonta’s message this Hispanic Heritage Month is a reminder of agency. “Resisting these attacks starts with recognizing the power we already hold. As a Black Latina, I stand on the shoulders of women who opened doors I now walk through, and it’s my responsibility to keep those doors open for the next generation. This Hispanic Heritage Month, I want every young woman and every Latina voter to know: su voto es su poder. Your voice, your vote, and your leadership matter. How we lead in this moment will shape our future.”

A historic record meets a historic responsibility

According to CAWP, Latinas now comprise 2.9 percent of state legislators in the U.S., a figure still significantly behind their share of the population at 9.6 percent. Yet their influence is rising. With attacks on reproductive rights, health care, and immigrant communities colliding with Hispanic Heritage Month, Latina lawmakers say the message is clear: this is a moment for courage, action, and unity.