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Republicans see diversity in their 2016 hopefuls

FILE - In this Dec. 17, 2014 file photo, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the son of Cuban immigrants, expresses his disappointment in President Barack Obama's initiative to normalize relations between the United States and Cuba, during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington. Long criticized as the party of old white men, Republicans are seeing a diverse group of people step up for possible contention in the 2016 presidential race. This class of contenders could include Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz who are both Hispanic, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, the first Indian-American governor in the U.S., Carly Fiorina, a female business leader and Ben Carson, an African-American neurosurgeon. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 17, 2014 file photo, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the son of Cuban immigrants, expresses his disappointment in President Barack Obama's initiative to normalize relations between the United States and Cuba, during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington. Long criticized as the party of old white men, Republicans are seeing a diverse group of people step up for possible contention in the 2016 presidential race. This class of contenders could include Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz who are both Hispanic, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, the first Indian-American governor in the U.S., Carly Fiorina, a female business leader and Ben Carson, an African-American neurosurgeon. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE - In this Dec. 17, 2014 file photo, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the son of Cuban immigrants, expresses his disappointment in President Barack Obama's initiative to normalize relations between the United States and Cuba, during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington. Long criticized as the party of old white men, Republicans are seeing a diverse group of people step up for possible contention in the 2016 presidential race. This class of contenders could include Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz who are both Hispanic, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, the first Indian-American governor in the U.S., Carly Fiorina, a female business leader and Ben Carson, an African-American neurosurgeon. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

By Associated Press 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Republicans’ next class of presidential contenders is looking like it might be a diverse group.

It could include two Hispanic senators, an Indian-American governor, a female business leader and an African-American neurosurgeon. In a group that could exceed a dozen Republican White House prospects, all but a few are in their 40s or 50s. One of the oldest white men is a fluent Spanish speaker whose wife is a native Mexican.

Republican strategists hope a more diverse slate of candidates will help appeal to a growing minority population that has given Democrats a decided advantage in the last two presidential contests.