Chávez, only the second-ever Hispanic member of the US Senate, was the first US-born Hispanic elected to the Senate (Octaviano Larrazolo was born in Mexico).
He was also the first person born in New Mexico elected by the state to the Senate.
By a large margin, he is the longest-serving Hispanic US senator.

He was honored by the United States Postal Service with a 35¢ Great Americans series (1980–2000) postage stamp.

His daughter, Ymelda Chavez Dixon, wrote a successful women's column for the Washington Evening Star from 1965-1981 called "Your Date with Ymelda."

A granddaughter, Gloria Tristani, followed in public service, serving as chair of the New Mexico State Corporations Commission in 1996, as a member of the Federal Communications Commission from 1997 to 2001, and as the Democratic nominee for New Mexico's other U.S. Senate seat in 2002 where she lost to Senator Pete Domenici.
Chávez, only the second-ever Hispanic member of the US Senate, was the first US-born Hispanic elected to the Senate (Octaviano Larrazolo was born in Mexico). He was also the first person born in New Mexico elected by the state to the Senate. By a large margin, he is the longest-serving Hispanic US senator.
He was honored by the United States Postal Service with a 35¢ Great Americans series (1980–2000) postage stamp.
His daughter, Ymelda Chavez Dixon, wrote a successful women's column for the Washington Evening Star from 1965-1981 called "Your Date with Ymelda."
A granddaughter, Gloria Tristani, followed in public service, serving as chair of the New Mexico State Corporations Commission in 1996, as a member of the Federal Communications Commission from 1997 to 2001, and as the Democratic nominee for New Mexico's other U.S. Senate seat in 2002 where she lost to Senator Pete Domenici.
Dennis Chávez