Amanda Renteria, a Democrat running for Congress, is a Latina candidate who symbolizes the manifestation of the American dream.

Renteria, the daughter of migrant fruit pickers who went on to Stanford and Harvard and earned a job as a senator's chief of staff, is widely supported by the Latino community, The New York Times reports.

At a recent campaign event near Fresno, a supporter said candidates like her are a rarity.

"We have been waiting, waiting," said Diana Rodriquez, a retired teacher whose parents also worked the fields in Central Valley, in a predominantly Hispanic congressional district. "We helped Obama win the election, and they still see us to be passed over. This is going to help the overall national cause -- respect for our community."

While Renteria reflects growing Latino influence, she also reflects the reality that Hispanic voters, which represent the nation's fastest-growing minority, are underrepresented in government.

"I have been troubled by a lack of Latino bench for the future," said Bill Richardson, the Democratic former governor of New Mexico. He said Democrats take Latinos for granted and have not been "as aggressive as Republicans in attracting and encouraging Latino candidates."

On Monday, the Latino Victory Project, a nonpartisan organization, announced an effort to prepare Latino candidates for public office and endorsed eight Democrats, including Renteria.

All in all 6,011 Hispanics -- 89 percent Democrats -- have held office since 2013, but most serve on school boards or municipal offices. At the upper-levels of government, Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida are on the national stage.

Two Hispanic governors, Susana Martinez of New Mexico and Brian Sandoval of Nevada, both Republicans, are leading a party effort to recruit more Latino candidates. Only eight Latinos hold statewide office, and five are Republican. Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey is the only Latino Democrat in the Senate.

"It is stunning," said Henry Cisneros, former housing secretary under President Bill Clinton. He says the trend is "very serious" for Democrats. "Because many young Latinos will say, 'I want to advance in politics, it looks like the Republicans offer a route -- and in some states it's the only route.' "

While Democrats rarely win statewide in conservative states, that is projected to change as more Hispanics reach voting age.

Fernand R. Amandi, a Democratic strategist in Miami, said the rise in Hispanics in office in Texas and Florida is partly because of the Bush family, such as Jeb Bush, who mentored Rubio. He said Republicans are "more tactical."

Gary M. Segura, a Stanford professor and founder of Latino Decisions, a nonpartisan polling firm, agrees with Amandi.

"Republicans, in the absence of policies that are likely to appeal to minority voters, have decided to invest in faces," Segura said. "Democrats believe they have the popular policies, and they believe these are captured constituencies, so they're not investing, and it's crazy."

Yet, Democrats say they are trying to appeal to Latino constituencies with candidates, such as Renteria and Leticia Van de Putte and Lucy Flores, who are both running for lieutenant governorships in Texas and Nevada, respectively.

Renteria, 39, was the first Latina Senate chief of staff to Senator Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat in Michigan.

"I feel like I've spent a lot of my life being one of the few," Renteria said. "I see it as my responsibility to bridge two different worlds."

Renteria moved to Sanger, California, in August with her husband and two sons to try to unseat Rep. David Valadao, a Republican of Portuguese descent.

Democratic donors like Emily's List has helped Renteria raise $630,000, although Valadao has twice that amount.

Renteria is also getting support from the Latino Victory Project's political action committee, which will run television ads and canvas in vital districts.

However, Valadao has roots in the community, and Grow Elect, a group dedicated to electing Latino Republicans in California, is supporting Valadao. Valadao also supports a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, although Renteria has accused him of not pushing his colleagues to act.

Analysts say the race will be close, as Renteria continues to gain momentum in Latino circles and communities.