Washington's Latino representation in Congress may double

Latino representation in Congress may rise after Tuesday's election, with two races in Washington state poised to play a big role.

Why it matters: Latinos make up nearly 20% of the U.S. population but only 2% of all elected officials in the country, which limits their political power, writes Astrid Galván of Axios Latino.

By the numbers: The number of Latinos in the House could increase from 48 to 50, while the number of Latino U.S. senators could rise from five to seven, per an analysis by The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Zoom in: Voters are likely to elect Latina state Sen. Emily Randall (D-Bremerton) to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer in Washington's 6th Congressional District, per the analysis.

• That could double Latino representation among Washington's 12-member congressional delegation — but only if first-term U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez can hold on to her seat in Washington's 3rd Congressional District.

State of play: Gluesenkamp Perez is locked in a tight contest with Republican Joe Kent in one of the nation's few tossup U.S. House races.

Go deeper: A guide to voting in Washington state, and what's on the ballot