The first Latino-led and Latino-focused political action committee (PAC) on Tuesday endorsed its first Latino 2016 candidates for Congress.

The Latino Victory Fund PAC announced the endorsement of four congressional candidates that the organization claimed "have a proven record of supporting issues that are important to Latinos."

"We are proud to endorse Nanette Barragán, Darren Soto, Pete Gallego [and] Salud Carbajal for Congress," said Latino Victory Fund President Cristóbal Alex. "All four of these candidates are proven Latino leaders who have been champions for our community and the issues we care about. They put together strong campaigns and are in excellent standing going into 2016."

Gallego previously served in Congress. He was elected to serve for Texas' 23rd Congressional District in 2011 and officially assumed office in January 2013. He lost his reelection bid to Republican candidate Will Hurd. Gallego, however, is once again running to reclaim his seat.

According to the PAC, Gallego is running in the most competitive race in Texas.

In California, Barragán is campaigning to win the state's 44th Congressional District, currently held by Democratic Rep. Janice Hahn, who previously announced she would not seek another term.

"My parents came to this country from Mexico to make a better life for themselves and their children. Today I have had the privilege of, among other things, working my way through college and law school, successfully taking on special interests to protect our environment, and serving as the first Latina ever elected in Hermosa Beach," Barragán said in a statement. "Now, running for Congress to represent the 44th District, I look forward to continuing to make my parents proud and serve our community."

In California's 24th Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Lois Capps is also retiring from serving the House. Salud Carbajal is hoping to succeed her. He served eight years with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, including active duty during the 1991 Gulf War. He also served on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.

In the swing state of Florida, Democratic state Sen. Darren Soto is campaigning to succeed fellow Democratic Sen. Alan Grayson. Grayson is campaigning to replace Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who announced that he will not seek reelection. Soto, in turn, is working to win Grayson's seat. Soto currently serves in Florida's Senate, representing the state's 14th District.

The Latino Victory Fund noted Soto passed legislation to limit the waiting time for immigrant youths with deferred action to obtain a driver's licenses, as well as legislation to admit immigrant lawyers into the Florida bar. He has also advocated for in-state tuition for DREAMers, a term for undocumented immigrant youths.

"We look forward to helping get them elected and grow the number of Latinos in Congress who will fight for our community," Alex added. "This is the first round of endorsements. In the coming months we will be evaluating candidates based on a specific set of criteria and announcing other strong Latinos who we will support."

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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