Latinas in the Democrat Party

By Celina Vasquez

April 15, 2015

One of the most important issues facing Latinas in my community is the lack of Latina role models as elected and appointed officials in Texas.  Having women in leadership positions is important to the development of future women leaders. Not only female leadership, but the translation of policies reflecting the interests of women at the local level is sorely needed. United States Spain Council Young Leaders Program, Leadership America, Leadership Texas, Las Comadres Para Las Americas Texas Public Policy and Civic Engagement Training, and the Women’s Campaign School at Yale have provided me with the training necessary to fill that void of Latina leadership in my community.  As one of the Founders and past President of the Texas Latina List, I have networked to help build leadership capacity by identifying and recruiting the next candidates for office and will make history by helping elect the 1^st Latina Member of Congress from Texas one day.  Founded in 2013, Texas Latina List is a progressive political action committee committed to promoting and increasing active participation of Latinas at all levels of elected and appointed offices, including public boards and commissions; and, we encourage participation in all realms of the political process for the enhancement of public policies that empower Latinas, our families, and our communities. Texas Latina List endorses and financially supports candidates. Since its founding, Texas Latina List raised over $20,000 and endorsed half a dozen candidates for local and statewide positions, establishing itself as the premiere Latina Political Action Committee in Texas. I have the desire to inspire Latina women to run for public office and help elect them. 

The Texas Democratic Party fights for the democratic values of the working and middle class. WE just need to do a better job of getting out our winning message of who we are as Democrats for the next election in 2016.

The Texas Democratic Party is the unique, historic, and indispensable champion of the working and middle class. We will motivate voters through our unwavering commitment to economic security for hard working Texans. In this, the Democratic Party has an unimpeachable record of ­fighting for safe working conditions, fair employment practices, livable wages, access to affordable health care, access to excellent public education, support for college tuition, respect for diversity, and antipathy toward discrimination. Republican politicians in Texas, in contrast, have an indefensible record of bringing forward policies that work against the interests of the working and middle class. We should be vigorous and relentless in driving this point home. Second, we should trumpet the fact that Democrats promote policies that result in economic expansion, thus creating real economic opportunities for everyone, not just for the sons and daughters of the well-to-do. ­The Texas Democratic Party is the true pro-business party. We understand that we must invest in schools, roads, and water infrastructure without becoming addicted to debt and without abandoning our low-tax framework. This is the key to a thriving economy over the long-term that will lift everyone’s chance at a productive and successful life. Republicans falsely claim credit for the Texas miracle, when in fact they have given us terrible public schools, crippling congestion, inadequate water resources, and a mountain of debt. We should never miss an opportunity to drive home the point that our economy thrives despite these Republican policies, not because of them. We must constantly remind voters that it’s the Democrats who offer policies that are genuinely pro-economic expansion and job growth and which promote a healthy and well educated work force for the future. Texas Democrats are proud of our rich history supporting the labor movement, Texas-style, and its work to improve the lives of working families. We understand that being pro-business and pro-worker are not mutually exclusive. Th­ird, Democrats, not Republicans, can be trusted to keep taxes low for hard working Texans. Democrats will not tolerate corporate interests shifting the tax burden onto the backs of the people who actually live and work here, something the Republicans are very good at. Republicans are also very good at increasing tolls and fees (hoping Texans won’t realize these are taxes) while they are leading us into a very deep hole of debt and dilapidation (the most insidious form of “tax” because debt and dilapidation become our children’s problem).

And we should throw very hard punches at Republican politicians when they deliberately mislead Texans in favor of the big-money donors that keep them in power. The Texas Democratic Party has stood up and fought Republican attacks on the Latino community S.B. 1819, the Republican Party’s repeal of the bipartisan 2001 Texas Dream Act and S.B. 185, a bill which legalizes racial profiling. (See Press Release for Texas Democratic Party below)

Texas Democrats Condemn Tea Party Republican Attacks on Minority Communities and Texas’ Students

Today, bills targeting Texas’ minority communities and students are being heard in the Senate Subcommittee on Border Security, despite strong opposition from the faith community, businesses, and universities. S.B. 185, a bill which legalizes racial profiling, and S.B. 1819, the Tea Party’s repeal of the bipartisan 2001 Texas Dream Act are being considered today.

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“Today’s hearing on S.B. 185 and 1819 shows where Dan Patrick’s Tea Party Senate top priorities lie: attacking immigrants and appeasing the radical Tea Party. 

“It’s disheartening that in 2015, we still have to fight against the legalization of racial profiling. If S.B. 185 becomes a law, I, a former county judge and a law abiding citizen, could be stopped and asked to prove my citizenship, just because of the way I look.  This is a bad bill for Texas. We urge the Texas Senate to listen to local governments, law enforcement agents, and the business community and vote no on S.B. 185.

“As if legalizing racial profiling wasn't enough, fringe factions of the Republican Party of Texas are now going after our hardworking undocumented students by trying to repeal the Texas Dream Act. These students have earned the right to receive in-state tuition, just like their peers. These students are just as Texan as all of us, and deserve our respect.

“We will remember these deeply offensive attacks next election when Republicans court the Latino vote.”