It is undeniable that the Latino vote had a tremendous impact on the election. As well, it made possible great advances for women and Latino candidates and increased their representation in the national government.

In 2008, Latino candidates participated in elections for state and federal legislative positions in more than 37 states. The 25 Latino members of Congress added another colleague to the list of those who will serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 111th Congress will include seven Latina women from Florida, New York and California. These women will join the 64 members who were re-elected to the House of Representatives.

The gains were not limited to Congress; Latinos were elected to legislative positions in several states, in numbers never before seen, especially in Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma.

Now that we have new leadership, we defenders, activists and organizers for [women’s rights] must seize this opportunity and make use of this electoral boost to bring the ability of women to care for and maintain their families to center stage.

Although the economy became the central elections issue, Latinos also voted with immigration reform in mind. Xenophobic and divisive Republican rhetoric proved to be damaging to building support in the Latino community, which in the past supported some Republican candidates. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), who sponsored immigration reform legislation in 2006, turned his back on the immigrant community during his campaign. He stated publicly that he would not vote for the same bill that he had supported earlier if it came up for a vote in 2008. Such damaging declarations fueled the fires of hatred and were responsible for McCain’s loss of the election.

At last, Latinas can say, “Let's move, our time has come.” But, now questions remain: What does this new era tell us? What do we want for our families and our communities? What will the Latinas’ agenda for justice and immigrants' rights look like?

* To begin with, the National Institute for Reproductive Health has three items on its wish list for the new Administration:

* To revoke the Hyde Amendment, which denies low-income women access to abortion services;

* To stop the implementation of discriminatory, militaristic and inhumane immigration enforcement practices which are destroying our communities; and

* To support an universal health care plan.

As a community, we recall the spring of 2006, when Latino immigrants marched with other immigrants and their allies against the damaging immigration policies put into place by the Republican Party. We had placards and chants: “Today we march! Tomorrow we vote!” Well, “tomorrow” has come, and Latino and other immigrant voters have cast their votes for hope, dignity and justice instead of fear.

Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas is the director for policy and defense of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.