Latino power in Congress is about to hit a new high. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus said its incoming class will push membership past 50 making it the largest caucus in the group's history.

The milestone arrives as the caucus prepares to mark its 50th anniversary in December.

A bigger voice after the wave

Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat and other caucus leaders framed the gains as proof that Latino voters shaped the midterm map and can no longer be treated as an afterthought.

They dedicated the moment to labor and civil rights icon Dolores Huerta whose organizing they said taught generations that rights must be fought for and communities must not be counted out.

Work they say comes next

Caucus leaders listed urgent fights ahead including defending immigrant families advancing a pathway to citizenship lowering costs expanding economic opportunity and protecting civil rights.

Freshman members will join a leadership team that already includes Espaillat along with deputies and vice chairs from Florida Texas California New Jersey and Oregon.

For the caucus the message was simple: the numbers are growing the voices are louder and the work of delivering for the families they represent is only getting started.