from its inception in 1854 to 1964, when senate republicans pushed hard for passage of the civil rights act of 1964 against a filibuster by senate democrats, the gop had a reputation for supporting blacks and minorities. in 1869, the republican-controlled legislature in wyoming territory and its republican governor john allen campbell made it the first jurisdiction to grant voting rights to women. in 1875, california swore in the first hispanic governor, republican romualdo pacheco. in 1916, jeannette rankin of montana became the first woman in congress—and indeed the first woman in any high level government position. in 1928, new mexico elected the first hispanic u.s. senator, republican octaviano larrazolo. in 1898, the first jewish u.s. senator elected from outside of the former confederacy was republican joseph simon of oregon. in 1924, the first jewish woman elected to the u.s. house of representatives was republican florence kahn of california. in 1928, the republican u.s. senate majority leader, charles curtis of kansas, who grew up on the kaw indian reservation, became the first person of significant non-european ancestry to be elected to national office, as vice president of the united states for herbert hoover.