Pennsylvania's Latino population grew 43% between 2010 and 2020, and the five-member state panel charged with drawing new legislative maps sought to reflect that increase by creating opportunity districts: areas with minority populations large enough to sway an election. 

But Spotlight PA found few candidates of color actually succeeded in these districts in May's primary — the first election since their creation — indicating other hurdles to political representation remain.

Among them: financial resources and party support, the candidates say. 

"Those barriers are placed there too often to prevent BIPOC individuals to get into office," said Yamelisa Taveras, who ran in the Democratic primary for Lehigh Valley's new 14th District state Senate seat.

Taveras added: "When we go into different races, we are going with passion and purpose — not with money and resources."

THE CONTEXT: Following the May 2022 primary, Spotlight PA analyzed races in five opportunity districts to examine the initial effect of such seats on the representation of marginalized communities.

At least one candidate of color ran in either the Democratic or Republican primary in each of those districts. Only two of the six candidates won their primary contest, one of whom ran unopposed.

Many of the candidates described an uphill battle, as they had few resources and a lack of "traditional" political experience, making it difficult to navigate the party system and gather endorsements or donations. 

Take Norberto Dominguez, who launched a run in May's Democratic primary for the new 22nd District state House seat in the Lehigh Valley — a district with a voter makeup that's 53% Hispanic and 67% minority. 

Dominguez gathered enough petitions to qualify for the ballot but dropped out, saying he was worried the petitions might not hold up if challenged and that he didn't have enough funds to counter such a challenge in court.

Before his withdrawal, Dominguez's campaign had raised just over $1,000. The candidate who won the Democratic primary — Josh Siegel, a well-connected Allentown public official — raised over $42,000, with large donations from unions and local businesses. 

"People of color do not have access to that machine," Dominguez said.