Rep. Norma Hernandez Named Chair of Illinois House Latinx Caucus

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Representative Norma Hernandez, D-Melrose Park, is stepping up to lead the Illinois House Latinx Caucus as Chairperson following the recent announcement of which members would be chairing House committees and caucuses.

“I am beyond excited to take on this role, which will enable me to lead the way on policies that impact Latino families across Illinois and address the issues that many in our community have in common,” Hernandez said. “Keeping Illinois moving forward means ensuring our policies lift up everyone and leave nobody behind. Representation matters and that’s the message I’m bringing to the House floor over the next two years.”

The caucus consists of the Democratic members of the Illinois House of Representatives who are of Latino heritage. They comprise eleven of the 78 Democrats in the House. Caucuses are groups of legislators, usually of the same party, who unite around some aspect of shared identity to bring focus to policies aimed at addressing the particular needs of that group.

The Illinois House Democrats have and Asian Caucus, a Black Caucus, a Downstate Caucus, a Women’s Caucus, a Moderate Caucus and a Progressive Caucus. Individual legislators can be members of more than one of these. In addition, the House Democrats are considered a caucus.

“I’m looking forward to the coming two years because of the potential to have a transformative impact on my community and communities across our state,” Hernandez said. “I’m honored by the esteem and trust of my colleagues and I know that I can count on their support as well as we begin another legislative session.”