Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo
Encyclopedia
Octavio Ambrosio Larrazolo (December 7, 1859 April 7, 1930) served as the fourth Governor of New Mexico and a United States Senator
. He was the first United States Senator of Mexican-American heritage.
Larrazolo was born in Valle de Allende
in Chihuahua, Mexico
, on December 7, 1859. A devoutly religious man, he moved to Tucson
, Arizona Territory
, in 1870 to study under the bishop
of Arizona
. He studied theology at the St. Michael's College
at Santa Fe
, New Mexico Territory
, in 1875 and 1876. Larrazolo returned to Tucson to teach in public schools briefly, and then moved to El Paso County, Texas
to teach there.
He was appointed clerk of the district court at El Paso, and then clerk of the United States District
and Circuit Courts for the Western District of Texas at El Paso. Larrazolo was admitted to the bar in 1888. He was elected district attorney for the western district of Texas in 1890, and reelected in 1892.
Larrazolo moved to Las Vegas
, New Mexico Territory, in 1895 and resumed the practice of law. He ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic
candidate for Delegate to U.S. Congress from the New Mexico Territory in 1890, 1900, and 1908.
In 1911, Larrazolo changed his political affiliations to Republican
after the State Convention of the Democratic Party denied his request that half of all statewide nominees be Hispanic to represent the 60 percent of the population of New Mexico that was Hispanic. He was elected Governor of the State of New Mexico in 1918, becoming just the second Hispanic to serve in this role since the territory became a state in 1912. The campaign in 1918, though, was an intense one that exposed some fractions within the Hispanic community. His Democratic opponent, Félix García, claimed that Larrazolo's birth in Chihuahua precluded him from understanding the concerns of “native New Mexicans.” Larrazolo’s narrow victory, however, seemed to quiet most of the debate about whether he could authentically advocate on behalf of the Spanish-speaking population. After serving two years as Governor, he was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives
in 1927 and 1928.
After Senator Andrieus A. Jones
died in 1928, Larrazolo ran for the remaining six months of the term. He won, and became the first Hispanic elected to the United States Senate. Larrazolo did not seek reelection due to illness.
Larrazolo died on April 7, 1930, and is interred in Santa Barbara Cemetery in Albuquerque, New Mexico
.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. He was the first United States Senator of Mexican-American heritage.
Larrazolo was born in Valle de Allende
Valle de Allende
Valle de Allende is the municipal seat and largest city of the municipality of Allende in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Originally named Valle de San Bartolomé, it was founded in 1569 by Franciscan monks...
in Chihuahua, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, on December 7, 1859. A devoutly religious man, he moved to Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
, in 1870 to study under the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. He studied theology at the St. Michael's College
College of Santa Fe
Santa Fe University of Art and Design is an institution of creative and performing arts based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The university offers programs in creative writing, theatre, art, graphic design, moving image arts , music, and photography, based on a liberal arts core curriculum...
at Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, New Mexico Territory
New Mexico Territory
thumb|right|240px|Proposed boundaries for State of New Mexico, 1850The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of...
, in 1875 and 1876. Larrazolo returned to Tucson to teach in public schools briefly, and then moved to El Paso County, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
to teach there.
He was appointed clerk of the district court at El Paso, and then clerk of the United States District
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
and Circuit Courts for the Western District of Texas at El Paso. Larrazolo was admitted to the bar in 1888. He was elected district attorney for the western district of Texas in 1890, and reelected in 1892.
Larrazolo moved to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Las Vegas is a city in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. Once two separate municipalities both named Las Vegas, west Las Vegas and east Las Vegas , divided by the Gallinas River, retain distinct characters and separate, rival school districts. The population was 14,565 at the 2000...
, New Mexico Territory, in 1895 and resumed the practice of law. He ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate for Delegate to U.S. Congress from the New Mexico Territory in 1890, 1900, and 1908.
In 1911, Larrazolo changed his political affiliations to Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
after the State Convention of the Democratic Party denied his request that half of all statewide nominees be Hispanic to represent the 60 percent of the population of New Mexico that was Hispanic. He was elected Governor of the State of New Mexico in 1918, becoming just the second Hispanic to serve in this role since the territory became a state in 1912. The campaign in 1918, though, was an intense one that exposed some fractions within the Hispanic community. His Democratic opponent, Félix García, claimed that Larrazolo's birth in Chihuahua precluded him from understanding the concerns of “native New Mexicans.” Larrazolo’s narrow victory, however, seemed to quiet most of the debate about whether he could authentically advocate on behalf of the Spanish-speaking population. After serving two years as Governor, he was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives
New Mexico House of Representatives
The New Mexico House of Representatives is the lower house of the New Mexico State Legislature.There are 70 members of the House. Each member represents roughly 25,980 residents of New Mexico.The Speaker of the House is Ben Luján .-Composition:...
in 1927 and 1928.
After Senator Andrieus A. Jones
Andrieus A. Jones
Andrieus Aristieus Jones was a Democratic Party politician from New Mexico who represented the state in the United States Senate from 1917 until his death.-Biography:...
died in 1928, Larrazolo ran for the remaining six months of the term. He won, and became the first Hispanic elected to the United States Senate. Larrazolo did not seek reelection due to illness.
Larrazolo died on April 7, 1930, and is interred in Santa Barbara Cemetery in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
.