Celebrity and political activist Eva Longoria has her sights set on the midterm elections and beyond.

According to Longoria, her passion for politics is far from new.

"I've always been politically active," she said in an interview with The Daily Beast. "I've been involved since Clinton ran in '92, volunteering, going door-to-door, canvassing, phone-banking ... And coming from the state of Texas -- the country of Texas, I should say -- I'm definitely at the forefront."

The Democrat's dedication to politics has impressed Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey. Longoria helped Booker in his campaign for Senate last year.

"Eva immerses herself in the pursuit of social and political justice," Booker said in a statement. "She knows the issues, is a great strategist, and is willing to sacrifice popularity for her larger sense of purpose. When I first met her, I was impressed and inspired by the fact that her activism is at the center of her being, and it is that authenticity that I believe makes her such a potent force for progressive change."

This Election Day, some Latinos have threatened not to vote in response to the government's failure to address issues important to the community such as immigration.

Longoria, on the other hand, would like to see the same kind of turnout seen in the 2012 presidential election.

"... in the midterms, nobody shows up," she said. "It's across the board. You can't elect the president, then sit and stay home and not elect the people he has to work with. ... We need to show our disappointment in the midterm elections [at] this lame-duck Congress that won't get anything done."

Eventually, Longoria hopes to see a powerful Latina female in the Oval Office.

"We have never had a Latina elected to the U.S. Senate; Eva wants to change that," Cristóbal Alex, president of the Latino Victory Project, which Longoria co-founded, said. "She is one of the only people in the country who can spearhead an effort, build an organization from scratch. ... She has been creating a leadership pipeline."

Could that White House Latina be Longoria herself? In 2012, the former "Desperate Housewives" actress wrote a piece for The Hollywood Reporter saying, "God, no."

"I'm sure if she weren't so busy being a movie star, she could be in the White House," Alex said. "Or governor of the state of Texas, or certainly in the Senate. Maybe she'll be the first Latina senator ... She's brilliant."

Longoria insists she's too busy with the Eva Longoria Foundation, which "helps Latinas build better futures ... through education and entrepreneurship," according to its official website, and other outreach programs.

"Ninety-nine percent of my time right now is devoted to helping Latinas through educational programs," she said.

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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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