Original Article: La Opinión 09/26/2025 La demócrata Adelita Grijalva resultó electa al Congreso para representar a Arizona. Grijalva fue la ganadora de la elección especial que se llevó a cabo el martes para cubrir el puesto que dejó vacante su padre en marzo pasado tras su fallecimiento por un cáncer y después de ocupar el cargo por más de dos décadas. Pero mientras la Cámara de Representantes se enfrenta a un impasse por el presupuesto federal y el posible cierre del gobierno, se está gestando una disputa política sobre cuándo exactamente prestará juramento Grijalva. Adelita Grijalva ganó con más del 68% de los votos , pero no es oficialmente miembro del Congreso hasta que preste juramento. Eso podría ocurrir el 7 de octubre, al día siguiente de que la Cámara vuelva a sesionar. Sin embargo, podría posponerse hasta el 14 de octubre o más tarde si el presidente de la Cámara, Mike Johnson, espera la certificación oficial de la votación del secretario de Estado de Arizona . Esperar podría dejar a Grijalva al margen , sin poder votar en algunos temas donde un voto podría marcar la diferencia. “Creo que quizás tenga que ver con que soy el firmante número 218 que impulsa la votación sobre la publicación de los archivos de Epstein. Y, bueno, no lo sé. Así que hay muchas preguntas. Planeo ir a Washington el lunes para una asamblea con otros demócratas. El líder Jeffries nos ha pedido que estemos allí, así que iré. Aunque todavía no tengo un cargo oficial allí, está muy claro que gané estas elecciones por casi 40 puntos”, dijo Grijalva a KGUN9 de Tucson, en una entrevista. Dado que los líderes republicanos de la Cámara han guardado silencio sobre el asunto , un comité demócrata está pidiendo al presidente de la Cámara de Representantes que no demore la juramentación de Grijalva. La presidenta de BOLD PAC, el brazo de campaña del Caucus Hispano, Linda Sánchez , emitió la siguiente declaración a La Opinión: “Los arizonenses del sur se expresaron con claridad al elegir a Adelita Grijalva por un margen abrumador. Cada día que pasa sin que Adelita ocupe un escaño en el Congreso es un día más para que sus electores se vean privados de voz en los temas más importantes, desde la reducción de costos hasta la protección de la atención médica. El presidente Johnson debe hacer su trabajo y otorgarle el escaño a la congresista electa Grijalva de inmediato. Adelita se ha ganado su lugar, y la gente del 7mo. Distrito de Arizona merece su representación ahora”.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 24, 2025 Contact: valeria@chcboldpac.com CHC BOLD PAC Endorses Rep. Sylvia Garcia for Re-election in Texas's 29th Congressional District Washington, D.C. – CHC BOLD PAC, the campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, proudly announces its endorsement of Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)’s re-election in Houston, Texas. “BOLD PAC is proud to endorse Sylvia Garcia’s reelection in Houston, Texas,” said CHC BOLD PAC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez. “Republicans in Texas are attempting to put a stop to voters' choice in the upcoming midterm election by creating new maps that will be rigged in their favor. Sylvia has built her career fighting to protect working families not only in Houston, but across Texas. Being able to serve alongside her in Congress and see her work firsthand has been nothing but extraordinary. Sylvia has dedicated her life to protecting her community against House Republicans’ extremist agenda. ” Republicans are targeting the only Latino opportunity district in Harris County, which is home to over 2 million Latinos. That’s why this race is so critical, not just for the future of Latino representation in Texas, but for the broader fight to protect voting rights and fair representation for all communities of color. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, one of the first Latinas elected to represent Texas in Congress, has a long record of public service and fighting for Houston families. Throughout her career, she has championed economic opportunity, reproductive rights, and immigration reform–first as Houston’s city controller, later as a Harris County commissioner, and now as Congresswoman. CHC BOLD PAC stands with Rep. Sylvia Garcia in her re-election so that she can continue delivering for Texas families. ### CHC BOLD PAC, the campaign arm of the Hispanic Caucus, was founded in 2001 to increase Latino representation in Congress. Since its founding, BOLD PAC has more than doubled the size of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. PARA DISTRIBUCIÓN INMEDIATA: 24 de septiembre de 2025 Contacto: valeria @chcboldpac.com  CHC BOLD PAC Respalda la reelección de la Representante Sylvia García en el Distrito Congresional 29 de Texas Washington, D.C. – CHC BOLD PAC, el brazo político del Congressional Hispanic Caucus, está orgulloso de anunciar el respaldo a la reelección de la Congresista Sylvia García (TX-29) en Houston, Texas. “BOLD PAC está orgulloso de respaldar la reelección de Sylvia García en Houston, Texas,” afirmó Linda Sánchez, presidenta de CHC BOLD PAC. “Los republicanos de Texas intentan frenar la voluntad de los votantes en las elecciones de medio término al imponer mapas manipulados a su favor. Sylvia ha construido su carrera luchando para proteger a las familias trabajadoras, no solo en Houston, sino en todo Texas. Poder trabajar junto a ella en el Congreso y ver su labor de primera mano ha sido una experiencia extraordinaria. Sylvia ha dedicado su vida a proteger a su comunidad contra la agenda extremista de los republicanos de la Cámara de Representantes.” Los republicanos están apuntando al único distrito latino con oportunidad de representación en el condado de Harris, donde viven más de 2 millones de latinos. Por eso esta contienda es tan importante, no solo para el futuro de la representación latina en Texas, sino también para la lucha más amplia por proteger los derechos de voto y la representación justa de todas las comunidades de color. La representante Sylvia García, una de las primeras latinas elegidas para representar a Texas en el Congreso, tiene un largo historial de servicio público y de lucha por las familias de Houston. A lo largo de su carrera, ha defendido las oportunidades económicas, los derechos reproductivos y la reforma migratoria, primero como controladora de la ciudad de Houston, luego como comisionada del condado de Harris y ahora como Congresista. CHC BOLD PAC apoya a la representante Sylvia García en su reelección para que pueda seguir luchando para las familias de Texas. ### C HC BOLD PAC, el brazo de campaña del Caucus Hispano, se fundó en 2001 con el objetivo de aumentar la representación latina en el Congreso. Desde su fundación, BOLD PAC ha duplicado con creces el tamaño del Caucus Hispano del Congreso.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 23, 2025 Contact: valeria@chcboldpac.com CHC BOLD PAC Congratulates Adelita Grijalva On Her Historic Election To Arizona's 7th Congressional District Grijalva Makes History as the First Latina to Represent Arizona in Congress Washington, D.C. - Tonight, CHC BOLD PAC – the campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – congratulates Adelita Grijalva on her election to Arizona's 7th Congressional District. CHC BOLD PAC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez issued the following statement on Adelita Grijalva’s victory: “BOLD PAC is thrilled to congratulate Adelita Grijalva on her historic victory as the first Latina to represent Arizona in Congress. Adelita will continue to fight for safe communities, affordable housing, and environmental protection for those in Southern Arizona,” said CHC BOLD PAC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez. “We are confident that Adelita’s leadership and her commitment to her community will make a lasting impact on Arizona families. “ Adelita is a lifelong public servant who has spent her career ensuring​ that people come together and address the big issues facing Southern Arizona. BOLD PAC celebrates and congratulates Adelita Grijalva on her win. ### CHC BOLD PAC, the campaign arm of the Hispanic Caucus, was founded in 2001 to increase Latino representation in Congress. Since its founding, BOLD PAC has more than doubled the size of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. PARA DISTRIBUCIÓN INMEDIATA: 23 de septiembre de 2025 Contatco: press@chcboldpac.com CHC BOLD PAC felicita a Adelita Grijalva por su histórica elección al 7º Distrito Congresional de Arizona Grijalva hace historia como la primera latina en representar a Arizona en el Congreso Washington, D.C. - Esta noche, CHC BOLD PAC, el brazo político del Congressional Hispanic Caucus, felicita a Adelita Grijalva por su elección al 7º Distrito Congresional de Arizona. La presidenta de CHC BOLD PAC, Linda Sánchez, emitió la siguiente declaración sobre la victoria de Adelita Grijalva: “BOLD PAC está orgulloso de felicitar a Adelita Grijalva por su histórica victoria como la primera latina en representar a Arizona en el Congreso. Adelita seguirá luchando para comunidades seguras, viviendas a bajo costo y la protección del medio ambiente para los habitantes del sur de Arizona”, afirmó Linda Sánchez, presidenta de CHC BOLD PAC. “Estamos seguros de que el liderazgo de Adelita y su compromiso con su comunidad tendrán un impacto persistente en las familias de Arizona”. Adelita es una funcionaria pública de carrera que ha dedicado su carrera a garantizar que las personas se unan y aborden los grandes problemas a los que se enfrenta el sur de Arizona. BOLD PAC celebra y felicita a Adelita Grijalva por su victoria. ### CHC BOLD PAC, el brazo de campaña del Caucus Hispano, se fundó en 2001 con el objetivo de aumentar la representación latina en el Congreso. Desde su fundación, BOLD PAC ha duplicado con creces el tamaño del Caucus Hispano del Congreso.

Original Article: The 19th 09/19/2025 TUCSON, ARIZONA — On a recent Saturday morning at Adelita Grijalva’s campaign headquarters, the mood was festive. Music blasted from speakers as volunteers — most of them clad in navy blue “All in for Adelita” shirts— ate treats from a local Mexican bakery in the parking lot and waited for their marching orders. The canvass kickoffs typically have a theme to rile up volunteers before they head out to the streets. This day, the rallying cry was around reproductive rights. Grijalva gave a speech to the small crowd, describing how her 18-year-old daughter, Adelina, briefly had fewer reproductive rights than her great-grandmother. She was referring to a window of time last year, when the state Supreme Court upheld a near total abortion ban from 1864, when Arizona was still a territory. In November, voters enshrined the right to an abortion in the state constitution. “That is something that we can’t go backwards on,” she told the small crowd. “We are going to have to fight for things that have already been fought for.” In a district where 52 percent of voters are Latinx, supporters see Grijalva as someone who not only understands the importance of defending reproductive rights, but also the rights of immigrants at a time when both are under threat. “Our rights are being stripped in every aspect of our lives, from the ICE raids, especially in this immigrant community, but even with abortion rights being rolled back,” said Jacqueline Ortiz, a volunteer with the campaign. “I think a lot of Democrats, especially young liberals, are a little bit frustrated with how our party has not taken an offensive position, and we’ve been on the defensive. And I know that she’s just going to hit the ground running in Congress to actually do something to fight against the immigration raids, for abortion rights.” Grijalva is expected to cruise to victory in the solidly blue 7th District in a Tuesday special election and become the first Latina ever elected to Congress from Arizona. She’s up against Republican candidate, Daniel Butierez, a political newcomer, who has mostly self-funded his campaign. It’s a significant milestone for representation in a state that has the fourth largest share of Latinx voters, and where Latinx voters’ growing political power has made them a decisive bloc ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Latinx voters make up a quarter of all eligible voters in the state. Their numbers have more than doubled since 2000, a rate that is expected to continue outpacing non-Latinos. Latinas, specifically, play a critical role for Democrats. Latinas register and turn out at higher rates than Latinx voters overall and they tend to favor Democrats by larger margins than Latino men. Latinas represent 1 in 5 women voters in Arizona. “For the longest time in Arizona, the people that did the work and were behind the scenes have been women, particularly in movement and in electoral politics,” said Alejandra Gomez, the executive director of Living United for Change, or LUCHA, a Democrat-aligned advocacy group that represents working-class Arizonans and works to expand Latinx political participation. “Through all of the work and years of women really sacrificing and being servant leaders, now we have the opportunity to have a woman lead.” Grijalva is running to fill the seat held by her father, former Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who died in March. He was known for his early activism in the Chicano rights movement, and later for his pro immigration stances in office, as well as his focus on environmental justice. Grijalva became the Democrats’ nominee after fending off a challenge from Deja Foxx, a 25-year-old reproductive rights activist who captured the attention of young progressives through her social media outreach. To run for office, Grijalva stepped down from her position on the Pima County Board of Supervisors, a job that she was hesitant to leave. She also worried about how the new role would impact her family. But lurking in the back of her mind she knew that it was something her dad always wanted to see. “I heard it from every friend of his on the Hill. ‘Your dad always said he was just waiting until you were ready.’” Victoria McGroary, executive director of BOLD PAC, the campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which backed Grijalva in the primary, said Latinx representation matters in this heavily Latinx border district. “There are so many amazing Latina leaders in the state, and we’re just so excited that Adelita finally gets to be the one to smash that glass ceiling and really make history for the state.” As Regina Romero, the first Latina mayor of Tucson put it at the canvass event: “It’s pretty incredible that we’re still celebrating the first ‘Latina’ here in our community. What that tells me is there are a lot of impediments to getting women involved in the political process, and especially [for] Latinas, and women of color.” U.S. congressional candidate Adelita Grijalva will be Arizona’s first Latina in Congress if she is elected. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images) It’s also not lost on Grijalva what it would mean for her to be the first. “It’s very humbling. It is a huge honor and a huge responsibility. I want people to see me in these positions and say, ‘if she can do it, I can do it and push for change in their own communities,’” she said. After the kickoff, Grijalva returned to her office, where behind her were reminders of why she’s running in the first place. In a window nook, a small painting and a bobblehead of her father is on display, flanked by prayer candles and paper flowers. It’s still hard for Grijalva to talk about her father’s passing, and she tears up when asked how she’s doing. She’s running a campaign amid that grief because she feels a responsibility to protect his environmental legacy. At the same time, she made clear in an interview that she has her own priorities to spearhead if she’s elected to Congress — ones that are distinct from her father’s and speak to her identities as a woman and mother. “The issues that I feel I’m going to want to champion are different. I want universal preschool,” she said. “I want people to keep their hands off of reproductive health.” “Some of the fights will be the same,” she said. “[Indigenous] sovereignty is going to be very important, and environmental justice is going to be incredibly important.” McGroary said Grijalva will play a critical role messaging to Latinx voters in Arizona headed into next year’s midterm elections.  In 2024, Donald Trump won the state by 5.5 percent, winning an absolute majority of the vote, which no presidential candidate had managed to do in the state since Mitt Romney in 2012. Arizona’s 7th District includes voters who live in the counties of Yuma and Santa Cruz, which shifted 14 and 17 points toward the GOP from 2020 to 2024, respectively, according to an analysis by The New York Times. A report from the analytics firm Catalist estimates support among Latinx voters was 54 percent for then-Vice President Kamala Harris, compared with 46 percent for Trump, a narrower gap between the Democratic and Republican candidate than in past presidential elections. The same report estimates that about 60 percent of Latinas backed Harris, a 17-point drop since 2016. As for Latino men, support was lower at 47 percent, a 14-point since 2016. In the same election, however, Arizona voters elected Democrat Ruben Gallego to the U.S. Senate. Grijalva has spent time touring the district, stopping in border communities like Yuma, where much of the country’s winter vegetables like lettuce is grown by migrant farmworkers, and Sells, on the Tohono O’odham Nation, a reservation that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border. She said voters are worried about the state of U.S. democracy, immigration, the economy, and cuts being made under Trump to Social Security and Medicare. In speaking to Arizonans on both sides of the aisle she’s hearing calls for immigration reform. It’s an issue she plans to work on while in Congress. She also hopes to elevate the stories of community members that can combat the narrative being pushed by the right depicting undocumented immigrants as criminals. “There is a woman being detained right now, who has three businesses here in Tucson that are threatened to be closed down, she hires 70 people,” she said. “It’s telling those individual stories of how this policy and lack of process is impacting all of our communities repeatedly.” She also hopes to hold a bipartisan hearing on the impact of border patrol on the Tohono O’odham Nation. Outside of immigration, she’s focused on the rising cost of living, which McGroary said is a top issue for Latinas. “Latino families are talking about costs, they are talking about job security,” McGroary said. “They are talking about, how do we make ends meet?” “Adelita is really focused on that, and I think that just speaks volumes to sort of the issues that Democrats should really be focused on,” McGroary added. Gomez said that Grijalva’s election and her focus on the “pain points” of a community she understands really well will help her reach out to voters who may not have supported Democrats this past election. “We’re living in a really complicated political terrain, and you need someone that believes that everyone deserves to be represented,” Gomez said. “That is Adelita.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 11, 2025 Contact: valeria@chcboldpac.com ICYMI: Denise Powell Calls Out Trump’s Power Grab on Redistricting WASHINGTON, DC - In case you missed it, as Trump and MAGA continue to push new schemes to redraw Nebraska’s congressional districts. Small business owner and Nebraska 2nd congressional candidate, Denise Powell , is voicing her thoughts on keeping a fair election and values for working families. Powell made it clear that attempting to change the rules in the middle of the game is an attack on honesty and representation that Nebraskans hold dear. WATCH: Denise Powell on KMTV “This is truly changing the rules in the middle of the game, and I think Nebraskans, we really value honesty and integrity, and this feels like none of that,” Powell said on KMTV. “This feels like politicians serving the will of one person​.” Trump and Republicans have created proposals that would redraw congressional boundaries for the Republican benefit. Powell is standing up to the Trump plan and is speaking for the Nebraskans. BOLD PAC is proud to have endorsed Denise Powell for Nebraska’s second congressional district. In a district we can flip, Denise is the fighter we need to build a Nebraska where working families thrive. ### CHC BOLD PAC, the campaign arm of the Hispanic Caucus, was founded in 2001 to increase Latino representation in Congress. Since its founding, BOLD PAC has more than doubled the size of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus *** PARA DISTRIBUCIÓN INMEDIATA: 11 de septiembre de 2025 Contacto: valeria@chcboldpac.com ICYMI: Denise Powell Denuncia La Toma de Poder de Trump en la Redistribución de Distritos del Congreso WASHINGTON, DC - Por si te lo perdiste, mientras Trump y MAGA siguen impulsando nuevos planes para rediseñar los distritos del 2nd Congreso de Nebraska. Dueña de una pequeña empresa y candidata al Congreso, Denise Powell , expresa su opinión sobre la importancia de mantener unas elecciones justas y los valores de las familias trabajadoras. Powell dejó claro que intentar cambiar las reglas en medio del juego es un ataque a la honestidad y la representación que los Nebraskans aprecian tanto. VER: Denise Powell on KMTV “Esto es realmente cambiando las reglas en medio del juego, y creo que como Nebraskans valoramos mucho la honestidad y la integridad, y esto no tiene nada que ver con eso,” dijo Powell en KMTV. “Parece que los políticos están sirviendo a los intereses de una sola persona”. Trump y los republicanos han elaborado propuestas que redefinieron los límites de los distritos electorales en beneficio de los Republicano. Powell se opone al plan de Trump y defiende los intereses de los habitantes de Nebraska. BOLD PAC es orgulloso de haber endorsado a Denise Powell para el segundo distrito de Nebraska. En un distrito que podemos cambiar, Denise es la luchadora que necesitamos para construir un Nebraska en el que prosperen las familias trabajadoras. ### CHC BOLD PAC, el brazo de campaña del Caucus Hispano, fue fundado en 2001 para aumentar la representación latina en el Congreso. Desde su fundación, BOLD PAC ha más que duplicado el tamaño del Caucus Hispano del Congreso.

Original Article: USA TODAY 09/09/2025 The liberal justice called the order "unconscionably irreconcilable with our nation’s constitutional guarantees." Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor blasted the Trump administration’s operation of the Los Angeles immigration raids, vowing not to stand idly by while the United States' "constitutional freedoms are lost." On Sept. 8, the Supreme Court lifted a restraining order from a federal judge in LA who had restricted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from conducting stops without reasonable suspicion. In July, US District Judge Maame Frimpong of the Central District of California said the government can’t rely solely on the person’s race, the language they speak, the work they perform, and whether they’re at a particular location, such as a pickup site for day laborers. However, the Sept. 8 reversal by the Supreme Court's mostly conservative majority gave the Trump administration another victory, as Sotomayor condemned the vote. "That decision is yet another grave misuse of our emergency docket," Sotomayor wrote in a blistering, 21-page dissent on Sept. 8. "We should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low-wage job." Sotomayor called the order "unconscionably irreconcilable with our nation’s constitutional guarantees." The justice, an Obama appointee, ripped her high court conservative colleagues and the government over the ruling. Sotomayor declared that all Latinos, whether they are U.S. citizens or not, "who work low-wage jobs are fair game to be seized at any time, taken away from work, and held until they provide proof of their legal status to the agents’ satisfaction." Sotomayor called the order "unconscionably irreconcilable with our nation’s constitutional guarantees." The justice, an Obama appointee, ripped her high court conservative colleagues and the government over the ruling. Sotomayor declared that all Latinos, whether they are U.S. citizens or not, "who work low-wage jobs are fair game to be seized at any time, taken away from work, and held until they provide proof of their legal status to the agents’ satisfaction."

PARA DISTRIBUCIÓN INMEDIATA: 3 de septiembre de 2025 Contacto: valeria@chcboldpac.com ICYMI: Vasquez defiende un plan equilibrado sobre la frontera y inmigración WASHINGTON, DC - Por si te lo perdiste, mientras Trump y los republicanos extremistas del MAGA intensifican sus esfuerzos para llevar a cabo un peligroso e inviable plan de deportaciones masivas, el Congresista Gabe Vasquez presenta un marco serio y orientado a las soluciones que pone la seguridad, la dignidad y la fortaleza económica en primer plano. El plan, que Vasquez creó en colaboración con la New Democrat Coalition, establece un enfoque moderno de la inmigración y la seguridad fronteriza que se adapta a la situación actual en Nuevo México y en todo el país. El plan incluye: Implementación de tecnología inteligente para modernizar los puertos de entrada y desmantelar las operaciones de los cárteles. La creación de vías legales que abordan la escasez de mano de obra, impulsan nuestra economía y fortalezcan la competitividad de los Estados Unidos. Exigir supervisión y rendición de deportaciones de Trump para garantizar que la detención de inmigrantes sea humana y legal. El marco también exige mayores recursos para combatir el tráfico ilegal y los delitos violentos, mientras protege a las familias y a los trabajadores del caos de la redada de deportaciones de Trump. Valeria Ojeda-Avitia, portavoz de BOLD PAC: “La agenda de deportaciones de Trump es injusta para el pueblo de Estados Unidos. Mientras los republicanos dan prioridad a las maniobras políticas, el Congresista Vasquez ofrece soluciones reales que reflejan los valores y las realidades vividas por las comunidades fronterizas. Él entiende que las familias merecen seguridad, protección y dignidad. Ese es el tipo de liderazgo que BOLD PAC se enorgullece en respaldar”. Este enfoque proactivo y sensato refleja lo que la gran mayoría de los latinos y estadounidenses están pidiendo: un liderazgo real y un plan equilibrado que proteja a las familias y mantenga nuestra economía en movimiento. Read more: Albuquerque Journal: New Democrat Coalition, Congressman Vasquez advocate an economic focused approach to immigration “Right now, we’re seeing this very draconian mass deportation policy that doesn’t really get to the root of the issues of what the American people want to see, and that is a fair and a legal and a humane immigration system,” Vasquez said. The plan is as much about the economy as immigration reform, he said, and improving the country’s economy is an area where Vasquez believes Republicans and Democrats can be brought together. The Washington Post: These House Democrats seek a new middle ground on immigration Trump’s mass deportation efforts are creating work shortages in the agriculture and hospitality sectors. In response, the group proposes creating a new temporary nonimmigrant visa category for industries experiencing occupation shortages and a new caregiver visa to help families access affordable child and elder care… “In this moment, we need unity amongst our party…You have to do what’s good, and if that means incremental steps towards better immigration policy, we have to be willing to go there.” – Vasquez New Mexico Political Report: Vasquez leads new immigration and border plan by House Democrats Vasquez, who chairs the working group [said,] “It’s time for change, and I’m proud to be leading the Democratic party forward with new commonsense policies to secure our borders, boost local economies, and expand legal pathways in a humane, cost-effective way.” The framework release comes as immigration remains a top political issue ahead of the 2026 midterm elections… ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 3, 2025 Contact : valeria@chcboldpac.com ICYMI: Vasquez Champions Balanced Border and Immigration Plan WASHINGTON, DC - In case you missed it, as Trump and extreme MAGA Republicans double down on a dangerous, unworkable mass deportation agenda, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez is stepping up with a serious, solutions-oriented framework that puts security, dignity, and economic strength front and center. The plan was developed in partnership with the New Democrat Coalition and championed by Vasquez, lays out a modern approach to immigration and border security that meets the moment in New Mexico and across the country. It includes: Deploying smart technology to modernize ports of entry and disrupt cartel operations Creating legal pathways that address labor shortages, grow our economy, and strengthen U.S. competitiveness Demanding oversight and accountability to ensure immigrant detention is humane and lawful The framework also calls for greater resources to crack down on smuggling and violent crime, while protecting families and workers from the chaos of Trump’s deportation dragnet. Valeria Ojeda-Avitia, BOLD PAC Spokesperson: “Trump’s deportation agenda is unjust to the American people. While Republicans prioritize political stunts, Representative Vasquez is delivering real solutions that reflect the values and lived realities of border communities. He understands that families deserve security, safety, and dignity. That’s the kind of leadership BOLD PAC is proud to stand behind.” This proactive, commonsense approach reflects what the vast majority of Latinos and Americans are asking for: real leadership and a balanced plan that keeps families safe and the economy moving forward.  Read more: Albuquerque Journal: New Democrat Coalition, Congressman Vasquez advocate an economic focused approach to immigration “Right now, we’re seeing this very draconian mass deportation policy that doesn’t really get to the root of the issues of what the American people want to see, and that is a fair and a legal and a humane immigration system,” Vasquez said. The plan is as much about the economy as immigration reform, he said, and improving the country’s economy is an area where Vasquez believes Republicans and Democrats can be brought together. The Washington Post: These House Democrats seek a new middle ground on immigration Trump’s mass deportation efforts are creating work shortages in the agriculture and hospitality sectors. In response, the group proposes creating a new temporary nonimmigrant visa category for industries experiencing occupation shortages and a new caregiver visa to help families access affordable child and elder care… “In this moment, we need unity amongst our party…You have to do what’s good, and if that means incremental steps towards better immigration policy, we have to be willing to go there.” – Vasquez New Mexico Political Report: Vasquez leads new immigration and border plan by House Democrats Vasquez, who chairs the working group [said,] “It’s time for change, and I’m proud to be leading the Democratic party forward with new commonsense policies to secure our borders, boost local economies, and expand legal pathways in a humane, cost-effective way.” The framework release comes as immigration remains a top political issue ahead of the 2026 midterm elections… ###

Original Article: Rolling Stone 08/08/2025 Three House members authored a resolution recognizing the health care program's anniversary. They all voted to take it away from thousands of their constituents Last month, Republicans passed a reconciliation bill that is expected to kick millions of Americans off of Medicaid and other forms of health insurance. The legislation includes over $800 million in cuts to Medicaid spending over the next 10 years, the largest in the program’s history. Now, as Republicans gear up for next year’s midterm elections, vulnerable lawmakers who supported the so-called “ Big Beautiful Bill ” are attempting to recast themselves as protectors of the health care program they sent to the wood chipper.

Original article: The Washington Post 08/01/2025 Democrats are arguing that a Republican plan for redrawing districts in Texas to create more winnable U.S. House seats for the GOP is an attack on Black and Hispanic voters AUSTIN, Texas — Democrats argued Friday that a Republican plan for redrawing districts in Texas to create more winnable U.S. House seats for the GOP is not only a power grab by President Donald Trump but also an attack on Black and Hispanic voters that violates the landmark federal Voting Rights Act. The plan’s Republican author acknowledged during a state House committee hearing that his proposed map is designed to help the GOP pick up five seats in Texas, something Trump is pushing to preserve the party’s now-slim House majority. The Texas House committee expected to vote on the plan by Saturday, allowing the full House to vote as early as Tuesday, before going to the Senate. Democrats have few options for thwarting the Republican plan during a 30-day special session called by GOP Gov. Greg Abbott, and calls for offsetting efforts in Democratic states intensified among Democrats outside Texas. Democratic legislators in Texas can walk out, go to another state and prevent either chamber from conducting but would face fines — and also block relief for victims of deadly flash flooding last month in the state’s Hill Country. Republicans disputed that their plan dilutes the power of Black and Hispanic voters to elect candidates of their choosing and said it could give them better representation by uniting some communities that previously have been split. But the new lines likely would make it harder for four Hispanic incumbents and two Black incumbents to retain their seats in 2026. The Texas delegation would go from a 25-13 split in the GOP’s favor to a 30-8 advantage. “I’ve never seen anything this brazen, this broken and this spineless,” said former Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, who’s running for the U.S. Senate. “If you do this, we’ll see you in court and at the ballot box.” Defending the map and partisan motivations Texas once was required by the 1965 Voting Rights Act to submit its redistricting plans to the federal government for review because of its past history of discrimination, but the U.S. Supreme Court declared in 2013 that the requirement was outdated and unconstitutional. The act requires states to have the number of districts in which minority voters can elect a candidate reflect their percentage of the population. The GOP plan creates five new districts without any incumbents, and sponsoring Republican state Rep. Todd Hunter noted that in four of them, at least half of the voting-age U.S. citizens are minorities, and there would be 10 Hispanic-majority districts, rather than the current nine. “It’s a good plan for Texas,” Hunter said. Hunter acknowledged that the lines were being redrawn “for partisan purposes,” which he said is allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court. He said a law firm was consulted as the map was being drawn. Other Republicans testified in favor of the plan for other reasons, many of them mayors or local party chairs. Melinda Preston, Denton County’s GOP chair, said the new maps will reflect the booming population in the state of 30 million. The redistricting push could move to other states Democrats argued that if Republicans succeed in redrawing the districts in Texas, Trump will push other states to redraw theirs before they’d normally do so, which would be in 2031 or 2032, after the next nationwide census. States are required to adjust the lines at least once every 10 years to keep the districts as equal in population as possible after population shifts. That’s led Democrats in California and New York to consider redrawing their states’ lines to help Democrats, though each state has an independent commission for drawing the lines. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, also said Democratic governors should retaliate, if they can. “We need to respond in kind, which I think we do to protect the American people,” Kelly said Friday at news conference during a DGA meeting in Madison, Wisconsin. “I hate the fact that we’re here, that we even have to consider something this drastic.” Why walking out is hard for Democrats Texas is unusual in requiring two-thirds of members to be present for the House or Senate to conduct business. That rule would allow Democrats, particularly in the House, where they hold 62 of 150 seats, to shut the chamber. But Democrats haven’t publicly promised to do that, though they’ve used the tactic in the past. House members now face a fine of $500 each day they’re absent, and the chamber’s rules prohibit lawmakers from tapping campaign funds to pay them. In addition, the chamber also couldn’t consider flood relief proposals — which Democrats have insisted should be the focus of the special session. Democratic state Rep. Rhetta Bowers accused Abbott and his fellow Republicans of holding that relief hostage so they could “slice up Black and Latino communities just to please Donald Trump.” “Let me be clear: We will not allow flood relief to be used as a bargaining chip for racially rigged maps,” Bowers said during a briefing for reporters and others. How the map could change the partisan balance Under the exiting lines, which were in place for the 2022 and 2024 elections, Republicans won all of their seats in districts carried by Trump by at least 10 percentage points. Democrats won all 11 districts carried by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, and Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vincente Gonzalez won reelection in districts that Trump won by less than 10 points. If the GOP’s proposed map had been in place in 2024, Harris would have won eight districts, and Trump would have won the other 30 by at least 10%. In San Antonio, Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro would be drawn out of a safe blue district into one that Trump would have won by nearly 22 points. And in Houston, Democratic Rep. Al Green would live in a majority-Hispanic district — but 72% of the Black voters he now represents would not. He would go from being in a district that Harris carried by 44 percentage points to one Trump would have carried by 15 points — with a GOP incumbent. “This is not democracy,” Amanda McLaughlin, a North Texas resident, said. “Is it worth destroying Texas to give the president five more seats?”