Colombian American U.S. senators Bernie Moreno and Ruben Gallego were sworn into the Senate on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. Moreno, a Republican from Ohio, and Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, are set to begin six-year terms.
The new Congress, sworn in on Friday, includes more than 70 new members, with a dozen senators and 60 representatives among them. Several members made history in this session.
Colombian American Ruben Gallego became the first Latino senator from Arizona after defeating Republican Kari Lake. In Ohio, Bernie Moreno made history as the first Colombian-born U.S. senator, winning his seat with more than 2 million votes.
Other groundbreaking members include Sarah McBride, the first transgender woman elected to the Senate, and Emily Randall, the first Latina member of Congress who is part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Bernie Moreno and Ruben Gallego join the US Senate
In an interview with Colombian outlet Noticias Caracol, Moreno said Colombia will have a strong ally in the United States. He also commented on the anticipated relationship between President-elect Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
“He is going to work with Maduro because he is the one who will take office next week,” Moreno said. “At the end of the day, the United States is not the one that chooses who the leaders of these countries will be.”
Hailing from Bogota, Moreno is the first Colombian-born American citizen to seat in the U.S. Congress. Gallego, on the other hand, is the son of a Mexican father and a Colombian mother.
Now, both Ruben Gallego and Bernie Moreno will serve in the US Senate during Trump’s second term alongside one of the most diverse rosters of US senators and house representatives in American history.
Mike Johnson confirmed as Speaker of the House
Mike Johnson was confirmed as speaker of the House after Republicans Keith Self and Ralph Norman changed their votes in his favor at the last second. Johnson, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, secured 218 votes to Hakeem Jeffries’ 215.
The support from Self and Norman was crucial for Republicans, who risked losing their slim majority in Congress. Republicans hold 220 seats to Democrats’ 215, a margin reduced after Rep. Matt Gaetz resigned following a sex scandal involving an underage girl.