From September 15 through October 15th the nation celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. As America’s largest racial or ethnic minority group, their roughly 70.1 million individuals have overtaken the African American population. Originating as National Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson acknowledging contributions of monolithic communities with Spanish-speaking ancestry.
In 1988 President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a month.
A March 2026 report of The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), as well as U.S. Census Bureau 2025 population estimates indicate Latin communities represent 21% or just over one fifth of the nation’s residents. Virginia has over a million Hispanics as political candidates attempt to court this most potent voter base in the nation. They should.
President Donald J. Trump, and Virginia’s former Governor Glenn Youngkin both owe victories to independent thinking Latinos who focus on family and their religious values. This remains problematic in a squabbling Democratic Party promoting socialism over issues critical to Hispanics.
The term Hispanic was first stated publicly in 1969 by my half-brother Frank Cortes Jr. during a discussion on community identification broadcasted on KCOR radio, part of the Univision network created by another Hispanic icon, my Uncle Raul Cortes. There remains ongoing debate by others who say they coined the phrase, such as the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), a Chicano organization. Yet in spite of community pride this month, divisiveness remains evident with attempts at “wokeism” by the use of the neologism Latinx, an incredibly offensive label to identify Hispanics.
Most Latinos and Latinas remain fiercely independent, despite liberal media attempts incorrectly suggesting their total embrace of “ideological activism” agendas. The vast majority of the Hispanic community object to men in women’s sports, DEI, gender dysphoria and focusing on “decolonization” and oppression.
Economic Growth, Veterans Affairs Leads Hispanic Concerns
What should be embraced are the remarkable advancement of pillars of the community such as the Honorable Bob Unanue who served on President Trump’s Hispanic Prosperity Commission and whose family built the GOYA food empire that has donated millions of pounds of food feeding the hungry around the world and fighting against human trafficking through their GOYA Cares program. Unanue also with America First Policy Institute as Hispanic Leadership Coalition Chair, acknowledged Hispanics remain people of faith and family.
“They are hardworking, patriotic Americans who value opportunity and the American Dream. As the fastest growing population in the country, Hispanics will play an increasingly important role in America’s future. If we want to grow and strengthen the America First movement, we must proactively engage them and fully incorporate them in our ranks.”
Trump publicly stated at a Mount Vernon event honoring Dr. Ben Carson, the 17th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2017-2021, Unanue would be receiving an award of “distinction” rumored to be the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is more than deserving of it. Other nationally known proud Americans of Hispanic descent are Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Honorable Jovita Carranza, the 44th Treasurer of the United States, the Honorable Jenny Sevilla Korn, the Faith Director of the White House Faith Office and Deputy Assistant to the President, media operative Mercedes Schlapp and Jackie Puente with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Hispanics also have a long history serving in America’s armed forces. Today approximately 314,000 are on active duty. Heroically, 61 men of Hispanic heritage have been awarded the Medal of Honor with 42 presented posthumously. And let’s not ignore “service” from Pope Leo, the 267th pope of the Catholic Church whose Chicago mother was Mildred Martinez. His Holiness maintains dual citizenship from Peru and the United States. Virginians of Hispanic descent take immense pride in former Attorney General Jason Miyares who’s expected to be the leading conservative and independent candidate in the next race for Governor. Along with Youngkin aided in leaving Virginia a $4.7 billion rainy day fund, and $9 billion in tax relief.
So how has present Governor Abigail Spanberger faired with the Hispanic community? With over 51,000 jobs lost and Virginia 48th in job growth, Spanberger has issues with Hispanics as serious crime in take center stage.
Troubling remains the unconscionable actions of Fairfax Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano and his lack of prosecutorial actions when it comes to illegal aliens have caused him to be labeled “America’s Worst Prosecutor.” Facts such as on August 19, of eight suspects in their county’s 2026 homicide cases, four were reported to be illegally in the country. There remains a plethora of crimes such as theft, murder and assault where illegals remain perpetrators with ongoing questionable actions by Descano leaving the public fearing for their safety and questioning Spanberger’s leadership.
Being Hispanic is More than Identity Politics
Actions by the Smithsonian, also have come into question during Hispanic Heritage Month for failing to advance assimilation.
Recently the Smithsonian announced the nation’s Hispanic museum will be housed at the Arts and Industries Building at 900 Jefferson Drive S.W., in Washington, D.C. next to Smithsonian Castle. The announcement comes with controversy. President Trump correctly with his earlier executive order “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” is focusing on the need for the Smithsonian Board of Regents to review existing content for “improper, divisive or anti-American ideology.” For veterans who have shed blood for our nation of course seek to protect freedom of speech, however what remains more critical, is protecting against what can be viewed as promoting sedition and demanding balanced media presentations.
What is needed is a decentralized Smithsonian Latino Center showcasing exhibitions across various museums, as well as those for Irish, Indian, Muslim, Scottish, Polish, Russian, German, Italian and all races that make up this great nation’s accomplishments. Trump again correctly seeking to advance assimilation and eliminate actions promoting segregation, has denied funding for a separate Hispanic museum.
What they should be lauding is how through education and industrial application, the Hispanic community is an engaged part of the 162,000 new jobs increase announcement with a 4.1 unemployment rate. That’s how candidates running for reelection such as 7th Dist. Congressman Eugene Vindman and U.S. Senator Mark Warner lose Hispanic support when they refuse to debate or address Hispanic community concerns.
They should.
