Who remembers Romualdo Pacheco, California’s first Latino governor?
Few people remember him today, and understandably so. More than 150 years have passed since he served in the state’s highest office.
As discussions continue about Xavier Becerra potentially becoming California’s first Latino governor, an important clarification is necessary: he would be the first Latino governor in more than 150 years. The first recognized Latino governor of California was Romualdo Pacheco.
Pacheco was a distinguished political figure with an aristocratic presence and a mustache reminiscent of Mexico’s Porfirian era. Deeply involved in public service, he rose through California politics and eventually reached the political circles of Washington, D.C.
Born in Santa Barbara, California, on October 31, 1831, Pacheco spent part of his youth in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he received a New England style education. After returning to California, he worked in agriculture and served as a commander on a trading ship before entering politics.
His political career was extensive. He served as a county judge from 1855 to 1859, was elected to the California State Senate in 1857 and reelected in 1861 and 1869, and later became California State Treasurer from 1863 to 1866. He then served as lieutenant governor from 1871 to 1875.
When Governor Newton Booth resigned on February 27, 1875, to join the U.S. Senate, Pacheco assumed the governorship. He served for approximately ten months, becoming the first and, to date, only Latino governor in California’s history. He left office on December 9, 1875.
Today, California’s Latino population represents roughly 40 percent of the state and is its largest ethnic group. Yet no Latino has been elected governor since Pacheco’s tenure. That is why Xavier Becerra’s candidacy carries such historical significance.
“California has made history. Xavier Becerra’s advancement to the general election is a defining moment both for the state and for the millions of Latino families who have been instrumental in shaping its future. As home to the nation’s largest Latino population, California will once again demonstrate the decisive power of Latino voters,” said Beatriz Lopez, Executive Director of Voto Latino.
Becerra has already made history. In 2017, he became the first Latino to serve as California’s Attorney General.
The short answer, then, is no: Becerra would not be California’s first Latino governor. He would be the first Latino governor since Romualdo Pacheco held the office in 1875.
Still, representation alone is not enough. Although Latinos make up a large share of California’s population, they have historically experienced lower voter turnout and remain underrepresented in government. While Becerra frequently highlights his upbringing as the son of working class Mexican immigrants, many voters want to know whether that representation will translate into meaningful results.
“There’s a lot of excitement about the representation side,” said Christian Arana, Vice President of Civic Power and Policy at the Latino Community Foundation. “You can have Latino representation, but whether or not that will actually lead to tangible outcomes for Latino communities, that’s what people want to know.”
Others point to Becerra’s political style as one of his strengths.
“He just never overreacted. Even when attacked during debates, he was calm,” said Fernando Guerra, professor of Chicano Studies at Loyola Marymount University. “That gave the sense of being a moderate, while he’s really a liberal, so he was able to appeal not only to Latinos, but to liberals and moderates as well.”
Whether or not Becerra ultimately becomes governor, Romualdo Pacheco’s place in California history deserves to be remembered. Long before today’s debates about representation and political power, he broke a barrier that would stand untouched for more than a century and a half.
