Herman Badillo

Herman Badillo (1929-2014) was the first Puerto Rican elected to the United States Congress, serving as U.S. Representative from New York's 21st congressional district from 1971 to 1977. Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, he was orphaned at age five and raised by relatives before migrating to New York at age eleven.

Badillo worked his way through City College and Brooklyn Law School, graduating first in his class. He served as Bronx Borough President (1966-1969) before his election to Congress. In the House, he advocated for bilingual education, poverty programs, and Puerto Rican civil rights.

His political career reflected the tensions within the Puerto Rican diaspora community. Originally a Democrat aligned with the civil rights movement, Badillo later became a Republican and supported English-only education policies, alienating many in the community that had elevated him. He ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of New York City multiple times.

Despite his later political evolution, Badillo's election to Congress in 1970 was a watershed moment for Puerto Rican political representation on the mainland — proving that Puerto Ricans could win major office outside of Puerto Rico and paving the way for subsequent generations of Puerto Rican elected officials.