Born in Mato Grosso, Lorena lived in Holambra, in the interior of São Paulo, where she worked in the nursing field. She decided to go to the US through an exchange program called Au Pair, which allows her to work as a nanny while studying.
"I did the Au Pair exchange program, which was a way I found to legally come to the United States to learn English and become fluent, as I was very interested in being bilingual", he said.
The initial plan was to return to Brazil after learning the language and seeking professional growth in nursing. But plans changed when she met her current husband. “I ended up not coming back,” he said.
As the nursing course she had taken in Brazil was not valid there, Lorena decided to change careers. "I decided to change career, and that's where I sought to become a legal interpreter and translator, working in the immigration area here," she said.
Once in American territory, he studied Political Science and began to dedicate himself to community activities, especially related to the difficulties faced by immigrants.
In an Instagram post after the win, Lorena wrote:
"I am deeply honored and incredibly grateful to have earned your trust and your vote. This campaign was about the power of people, the importance of every voice, and what we can accomplish when we come together. Our greatest strength lies in our willingness to support each other. I will work every day to continue to live up to the trust placed in me, listen to your voices, and represent our community."
Lorena Betts, Brazilian elected state representative in Massachusetts — Photo: Instagram / Reproduction
In total, seven Brazilians were elected in the USA, all of them are Democrats.
Most of them were elected in Massachusetts, a state with the second largest concentration of Brazilians in the country. There are four: Priscila Sousa, Rita Mendes, Lorena Betts and Danillo Sena. Three were re-elected to continue in their positions.
Seven Brazilians were elected state deputies in the US midterm elections: Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, Priscila Sousa, Rita Mendes, Lorena Betts, Farley Santos, Danillo Sena and Elaine Marzola — Photo: Social networks / Reproduction
Farley Santos of Danbury, Connecticut's 109th District, was also re-elected, as was Elaine Marzola of Nevada's 21st District.
Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet ran for the first time and won a hard-fought victory in Florida, a predominantly Republican state.
See the list of elected officials:
Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, 40 years old, born in Duque de Caxias (RJ). Elected in Florida.
Priscila Sousa, 38 years old, born in Ipatinga (MG). Elected in Massachusetts.
Rita Mendes, 42 years old, born in Conselheiro Pena (MG). Elected in Massachusetts.
Danillo Sena, born in Timbaúba (PE). Elected in Massachusetts.
Lorena Betts, born in Mato Grosso. Elected in Massachusetts.
Farley Santos, elected in Connecticut.
Elaine Marzola, born in Rio de Janeiro. Elected in Nevada.
Find out more about them:
Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet
Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet after obtaining his American citizenship in 2021 — Photo: Personal Archive
Born in Duque de Caxias, in Baixada Fluminense of Rio de Janeiro, and son of a single mother, a domestic worker from Ceará, the Brazilian arrived in the United States. At age 26, through DACA, he received permission to work.
👉 DACA was a federal program created during the Barack Obama administration to offer temporary protection against deportation for immigrants up to the age of 31 who had entered the US before the age of 16. Beneficiaries also received authorization to work legally in the country.
However, only in 2021, one year after obtaining his green card, did Lazaballet definitively gain American citizenship.
An activist in organizations defending the rights of immigrants and the LGBTQIAPN+ community, he had his first experience in public administration in the government of Buddy Dyer, mayor of Orlando, where he worked for 5 years.
Lazaballet is 40 years old and has been married to Luis Sousa-Lazaballet since 2020.
"I arrived in the US when I was 14, literally with a suitcase, a heart full of dreams and nothing else. It was precisely because of this very difficult process, of being an immigrant in this country, that I got involved in politics. To help people and seek social change. My story of overcoming indicates that I know what it's like to suffer and have to fight for the American dream," he told g1.
Priscila Sousa
Priscila Sousa has been state representative from Framingham since 2023 and was re-elected — Photo: Personal Archive
Born in Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, Priscila moved to the United States at the age of 7 and was raised in Framingham, a city that is home to one of the largest and most traditional Brazilian communities in the USA. There are around 8 thousand Brazilians in a population of 72 thousand inhabitants.
Priscila obtained her green card in 2004, at the age of 16. Years later, she formalized her situation and became an American citizen.
In 2009, he earned his degree in Political Science, International Relations and English from Simmons University.
This year, Priscila, who is 38 years old, ran for her second re-election. She has been the representative for Middlesex's 6th district since January 2023 - terms last two years.
Asked by g1 if she has ever suffered prejudice because she is an immigrant, Priscila says that she has always been welcomed in the state's Chamber of Councilors and Deputies, but that the situation changed after Donald Trump's return to the Presidency:
"As for discrimination against voters or the community in general, we unfortunately saw it happen more after the election of President Donald Trump. Certain ideologists, mentalities, a certain contempt for foreign immigrants... But we continue to fight."
Rita Mendes
Rita Mendes at her inauguration as Massachusetts state representative in 2023 — Photo: Personal Archive
Like Priscila, Rita has been a state deputy since January 2023 in Massachusetts.
Born in Conselheiro Pena, a city in Minas Gerais, she moved to the USA with her parents in 2002 and arrived in the country without speaking a word of English.
Brockton, where she currently serves as a representative, was the city chosen by the family to settle. Before arriving at the State Chamber, in 2019, the Brazilian was elected to join the Municipal Council.
Rita, who is 42 years old, has a law degree and works as a lawyer and real estate broker.
Danillo Sena
Brazilian Danillo Sena is a state deputy in the USA and represents Acton, in Massachusetts — Photo: Personal Archive
Born in Timbaúba, a city in the Zona da Mata Norte of Pernambuco, Sena has held a seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since June 2020.
He emigrated to the United States in 2001, at the age of 14, going to live with his mother in Acton, a city that is part of the 37th district of Middlesex, where he works.
Like Felipe, Danillo was a DACA beneficiary, but only obtained a green card and became an American citizen in 2018, at the age of 31.
Farley Santos
Farley Santos, re-elected state deputy for Connecticut, in the USA, with his wife and daughter — Photo: Instagram / Reproduction
Farley Santos was re-elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives, for the 109th State District, in the city of Danbury, which has a large Brazilian community. He has been in office since 2023.
Farley arrived in the United States at the age of 7 and initially lived as an undocumented immigrant. He is married and has a daughter.
After the victory, he posted on Instagram and claimed to have never forgotten his origins:
"As a young immigrant growing up in this city, I never imagined that one day I would have the privilege of representing the very community that gave me and my family the chance to achieve the American dream. I never forgot where I came from, where I was raised, who I fought for, or what I serve. The election may be over, but the work continues. And so do I. I will continue to be there, fighting with all my might and delivering results for Danbury."
Elaine Marzola
Elaine Marzola, Brazilian re-elected Nevada state deputy — Photo: Social networks / Reproduction
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Elaine arrived in Las Vegas with her parents as a child in 1984, and today holds one of the leadership positions in the Nevada Assembly.
Representative of the 21st district of the American state since 2021, Elaine won her third re-election.
She earned a bachelor's degree in Women's Studies from the University of Nevada in 2006 and, four years later, received her law degree from Thomas M. Cooley College at the University of Michigan.
