The New York Times: Democrats, Sensing Shift on Abortion Rights Among Latinas, Push for More Gains
The New York Times: Democrats, Sensing Shift on Abortion Rights Among Latinas, Push for More Gains
Latina Democrats gathered late last month at El Portal, a longtime center of Latino political activity in Phoenix, to discuss abortion rights.
Credit: Paul Ratje for The New York Times
Original article: The News York Times 5/08/2024
Hours before Arizona state legislators voted to repeal an 1864 abortion ban last month, a group of mostly Latina Democrats huddled at a nearby Mexican restaurant for a strategy session on galvanizing Latina voters over abortion rights.
“I am 23 — why do I have less rights than my abuelita in Mexico?” Melissa Herrera, a Democratic campaign staffer, asked the cluster of women at the restaurant, referring to her grandmother.
The question crystallized what Democrats hope will be a decisive electoral factor in their favor this year, one that upends conventional political wisdom: A majority of Latino voters now support abortion rights, according to polls, a reversal from two decades ago. Polling trends, interviews with strategists and election results in Ohio and Virginia, where abortion rights played a central role, suggest Democrats’ optimism regarding Latinas — once considered too religious or too socially conservative to support abortion rights — could bear out.
Since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022, stringent curbs have been taking effect in Republican-dominated states. In Arizona, for one, the May 2 repeal of the blanket ban from 1864 still leaves abortions governed by a two-year-old law prohibiting the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with no exception for rape or incest.
As of April 2023, according to the Pew Research Center, 62 percent of Latinos believed abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Twenty years earlier, most Hispanics told Pew that they opposed abortion rights by a nearly two-to-one margin. (The most recent polling has been conducted online, instead of over the phone, but the surveys show an overall gradual shift in opinions.)
Latino majorities came out in favor of reproductive rights in 2023 elections in Ohio and Virginia, according to other surveys, and women played a major role in stalling the shift of Hispanic voters toward the Republican Party in 2022, when many voted for Democrats, citing abortion and reproductive health as the most important issue.
“Abortion is going to be an essential issue this cycle,” said Victoria McGroary, the executive director of BOLD PAC, the campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “We are going to see what I think is going to be crystal-clear evidence that reproductive freedom matters to Latino voters.”
Surveys show the diversity of the Latino voting population still poses some obstacles for Democrats, with support for abortion rights varying based on factors including age, geography and party affiliation. Latino voters in South Texas and South Florida remain more culturally conservative, and a majority of Latino evangelicals, a growing segment of the population, still says abortion should be illegal.
Within that culturally conservative world, many remain unmoved.
Leaving a shopping plaza in Phoenix, Daisy Ochoa, 31, a paralegal, said she was planning to vote for Republicans in November because their stances on the issue are in line with her Christian faith.
“I believe that if there is life, there is life,” she said. “I don’t think anybody should take life, unless there’s some threat to the mom.”
But outside a grocery store near downtown, Gina Fernandez, 52, a Democrat and an administrative assistant, offered signs that Democrats had struck a nerve. She said she had been raised in a Mexican American and Roman Catholic household but had considered her right to abortion a foregone conclusion until the Supreme Court overturned Roe. That jolted her and her 19-year-old daughter. She used to vote for the best candidate regardless of party affiliation, Ms. Fernandez said.
“This cycle, I’m voting for all Democrats,” she said.
Democratic officials and activists in Arizona point to lingering uncertainty over abortion access in the state, since the repeal will not take effect until 90 days after the Legislature adjourns for the summer. That, they say, is fueling support for a November ballot initiative that would enshrine the right to abortion in the state’s Constitution — and could lift Democrats up and down the ballot.
“It is still not over,” said Mary Rose Wilcox, a former city councilwoman and elected county official who owns El Portal, the restaurant that has served as a center of Latino political activity in Phoenix and hosted the April strategy session. “We need a straight law that safeguards protections.”
The women also said they needed to counter what they called misconceptions about Latino voters’ conservatism.
“I always say I’m a pro-choice Catholic,” Raquel Terán, a Democratic House candidate who convened the round-table meeting, said in an interview. “I go to Mass, but I also support a woman’s right to choose.”
Rosie Villegas-Smith, a Mexican immigrant who founded Voces Unidas por la Vida, an anti-abortion organization in Phoenix, said she believed Hispanic support for abortion rights in recent polling was overblown. She accused Democrats of fear-mongering and misleading voters on the issue.
“They speak in euphemisms and say abortion is health care but abortion is not health care,” she said. “Once Latinos learn what abortion truly is, they are against it.”
Republicans at the national level argue that abortion is not going to matter more to Latinos than crime, border security or the economy, particularly among working-class families worried about the cost of gas and groceries.
“You have seen Republicans making up ground with Latino voters because of a message on those issues,” said Jack Pandol, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, the campaign arm of House Republicans. “They have a better message on improving quality of life, on bringing costs down, on making communities safe.”
A crop of Latina Democratic candidates is nonetheless running on abortion rights in districts with large or fast-growing Hispanic populations. In interviews, some said the fall of Roe had made the issue more urgent for their constituencies — and made voters more receptive to their message that abortion access was crucial to personal freedom and health care, even if the voters themselves were against the procedure.
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In Oregon, Representative Andrea Salinas, who in 2022 became one of the first two Hispanic candidates elected to Congress from the state, said she cast the issue of abortion rights as a matter of “empowering women to make their own personal choices with their doctor.”
“I didn’t have as much as my competitors to put out glossy mailers or fancy television ads, but what I did have I used to lean into reproductive rights,” said Ms. Salinas, adding that the issue helped fuel her victory in a northeastern district home to the most Latinos in the state.
Ms. Terán, who is running to become the first Latina to represent Arizona in Congress, recalled that Democratic operatives cautioned her not to talk about her past work experience with Planned Parenthood, an abortion rights group, when she first ran for a state legislative seat in 2018 because it was a Latino-heavy district. She disregarded that advice and won.
She went on to make abortion rights central to her platform in the Arizona House. In 2019, she and other state lawmakers visited El Salvador to study the impact of the nation’s abortion ban, and they met with women who had been imprisoned for having the procedure done. She later co-wrote the measure that repealed Arizona’s 1864 abortion law.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 21, 2025 Contact: valeria@chcboldpac.com Denise Powell Leads NE-02 Fundraising, Surges Ahead of Primary Field in Bid to Flip Open Seat Grassroots-powered Democrat has raised nearly $750,000 to date—more than double her closest primary competitor WASHINGTON, DC – CHC BOLD PAC, the campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, applauds Democrat Denise Powell’s fundraising performance in Nebraska’s open 2nd Congressional District. Powell has raised nearly $750,000 to date, outpacing every Democrat in the primary and more than doubling her closest competitor. Denise also has twice as much cash on hand as her closest competitor. With Don Bacon stepping down, NE-02 is the congressional district most likely to flip in the 2026 midterm elections. Now, Powell is proving she has the momentum, message, and movement needed to flip this seat blue. Her campaign is powered by Nebraskans who are fed up with rising health care costs and tired of the chaos MAGA Republicans have brought to Washington. Powell’s fundraising milestone cements her status as the Democratic frontrunner in NE-02 and adds to the national momentum building around her candidacy. With the general election now wide open, BOLD PAC is proud to support Denise Powell, who is ready to deliver real results for working 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: 21 de octubre de 2025 Contacto: valeria@chcboldpac.com Denise Powell lidera la recaudación de fondos en NE-02 y toma la delantera rumbo a la primaria para recuperar este escaño clave La demócrata impulsada por las bases ha recaudado casi $750,000—más del doble que su rival más cercano en la contienda primaria WASHINGTON, DC – CHC BOLD PAC, el brazo político del Congressional Hispanic Caucus, celebra el sólido desempeño financiero de la demócrata Denise Powell en el segundo distrito congresional de Nebraska, actualmente sin titular. Con casi $750,000 recaudados hasta la fecha, Powell supera ampliamente a todos los contendientes demócratas en la primaria. Ha duplicado tanto la recaudación como el efectivo disponible de su oponente más cercano. Con la salida de Don Bacon, el distrito NE-02 es el más propenso a cambiar de partido en las elecciones de mitad de término de 2026. Ahora, Powell está demostrando que tiene el impulso, el mensaje y el respaldo necesarios para recuperar este escaño para los demócratas. Su campaña está impulsada por habitantes de Nebraska, hartos del aumento en los costos de servicios de salud y de la inestabilidad que los republicanos MAGA han traído a Washington. Este hito en recaudación consolida a Powell como la favorita demócrata en NE-02 y refuerza el impulso nacional detrás de su candidatura. Con una elección general ampliamente competitiva, BOLD PAC se enorgullece de respaldar a Denise Powell, quien está lista para entregar resultados reales a las familias trabajadoras. ### CHC BOLD PAC, el brazo político del Congressional Hispanic Caucus, fue fundado en 2001 para aumentar la representación latina en el Congreso. Desde su creación, BOLD PAC ha logrado más que duplicar el tamaño del Caucus Hispano del Congreso .
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 21, 2025 Contact: valeria@chcboldpac.com ICYMI: JoAnna Mendoza Leads Juan Ciscomani in New Poll—Days After Outraising Him With Skyrocketing Grassroots Support and a Lead in the Polls, Mendoza’s Momentum is Undeniable WASHINGTON, DC – A new poll from House Majority PAC shows CHC BOLD PAC-endorsed candidate JoAnna Mendoza continues to pull ahead of vulnerable Republican, Juan Ciscomani, in Arizona’s battleground 6th Congressional District. Mendoza leads 42% to 41% in the head-to-head matchup—momentum that comes on the heels of her strong Q3 fundraising, where she outraised Ciscomani and posted over $1.9 million in grassroots support since launching her campaign. Meanwhile, Ciscomani’s support is crumbling: the poll finds nearly half of voters disapprove of his performance in Congress. That’s no surprise. Ciscomani has backed extreme MAGA policies—from slashing health care and rubber-stamping Trump’s reckless tariff agenda, to protecting tax breaks for billionaires while working Arizonans fall further behind. JoAnna Mendoza—a retired Marine, daughter of farmworkers, and working mom—is channeling the frustration Arizonans feel into a people-powered campaign that’s building serious momentum to flip this seat blue in 2026. ### 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: 21 de octubre de 2025 Contacto: valeria@chcboldpac.com ICYMI: JoAnna Mendoza supera a Juan Ciscomani en nueva encuesta—días después de superarlo en recaudación Con un respaldo de base en auge y una ventaja en las encuestas, el impulso de Mendoza es innegable WASHINGTON, DC – Una nueva encuesta de House Majority PAC muestra que JoAnna Mendoza , candidata respaldada por CHC BOLD PAC, continúa superando al republicano vulnerable Juan Ciscomani en el competitivo 6º distrito congresional de Arizona. Mendoza lidera el cara a cara 42% a 41%, un impulso que llega tras su sólido desempeño en recaudación del tercer trimestre, donde superó a Ciscomani y ha recaudado más de $1.9 millones en apoyo de base desde el lanzamiento de su campaña. Mientras tanto, el respaldo a Ciscomani se desmorona: la encuesta revela que casi la mitad de los votantes desaprueba su gestión en el Congreso. Y no es para menos. Ciscomani ha respaldado políticas extremas del movimiento MAGA—desde recortes a servicios de salud y apoyo ciego a la agenda imprudente de aranceles de Trump, hasta proteger recortes fiscales para multimillonarios mientras las familias trabajadoras de Arizona siguen quedando atrás. JoAnna Mendoza—veterana de la Marina, hija de trabajadores del campo y madre trabajadora—está canalizando la frustración que sienten los arizonenses en una campaña impulsada por el pueblo, con un impulso real para recuperar este escaño en 2026. ### 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: La Opinión 10/15/2025 The path to winning Latino voters isn’t a mystery. It starts with investing in candidates. That’s what BOLD PAC has done for 24 years During Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the generations of Latinos and Latinas who’ve shaped this country, often without the power, recognition, or resources we deserve. Our communities are foundational to this country’s success, and our leadership should be too. At CHC BOLD PAC–the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus–we know what it takes to win Latino voters because we’ve done it. While other campaigns lose ground, BOLD candidates outperform because we invest in candidates who can win. We proudly backed Senator Ruben Gallego, who earned overwhelming Latino support in Arizona. We stood with candidates like Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Sam Liccardo, and Rep. Andrea Salinas through incredibly tough primaries, often winning against the odds. That’s why we’re all in for the next generation of Latina leaders who are ready to flip key Republican-held seats: Marlene Galán-Woods (AZ-01), JoAnna Mendoza (AZ-06), Denise Powell (NE-02), and Carol Obando-Derstine (PA-07). But too often, Latino leaders are told to wait their turn, or their lived experience isn’t quite the right fit, or that someone else is better suited to run. Even in districts powered by Latino voters, we see decisions made far from the communities most impacted. It’s a pattern we know too well, and it holds our country and our community back. The path to winning Latino voters isn’t a mystery. It starts with investing in candidates. That’s what BOLD PAC has done for 24 years, and that’s why we win with our community. If we want to reach Latino voters, we can’t start by sidelining the very leaders the community trusts. Because if investments are not in line with priorities, we risk losing ground in the very battlegrounds we can’t afford to. Hispanic Members and candidates have shown what’s possible when Latino leadership is uplifted. As Hispanic Heritage Month ends, let’s not just commit to reflect the country we live in, but to reflect the country we’re building. Democrat Rep. Linda Sánchez represents District 38 in California, which has a 61.70% Hispanic population. Sánchez is Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 2, 2025 Contact: valeria@chcboldpac.com CHC BOLD PAC’s Candidates Lead Charge to Flip the House and End Republican Dysfunction Chairwoman Linda Sánchez and battleground Latina candidates slam Republican-led shutdown and lay out path to Democratic majority Washington, D.C. – Today, BOLD PAC Chairwoman Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38) hosted a virtual press conference alongside a slate of Latina congressional candidates to call out the Republican government shutdown and spotlight the growing leadership of Latinas in the fight to flip the House. Democrats only need to flip 3 seats to take back the House. Marlene Galán-Woods (AZ-01), JoAnna Mendoza (AZ-06), Denise Powell (NE-02), Carol Obando-Derstine (PA-07) represent some of the most competitive races in the country – all in districts with sizable Latino populations – and are key to delivering that victory. WATCH THE VIDEO REMARKS HERE With Republicans bringing the government to a halt—jeopardizing health care for millions of Americans and stopping pay for federal workers—BOLD PAC’s Latina candidates made it clear: they’re stepping up to clean up the chaos. As Republicans like David Schweikert (AZ-01) and Don Bacon (NE-02) head for the exits, Latina candidates are stepping in to flip their seats and deliver stability, compassion, and common-sense leadership for their communities. “With Republicans shutting down the government, it’s women—especially Latina women—who are standing up and saying: enough,” said Chairwoman Linda T. Sánchez . “While Republicans are walking away from the mess they created, these women are ready to lead, ready to govern, and ready to flip the House.” CHC BOLD PAC Endorsed Candidates included Marlene Galán-Woods, Candidate for AZ-01 JoAnna Mendoza, Candidate for AZ-06 Denise Powell, Candidate for NE-02 Carol Obando-Derstine, Candidate for PA-07 Each candidate shared how the shutdown is impacting local families—from school lunch programs and SNAP benefits to housing assistance and small business loans—and how their lived experiences as women and moms drive their leadership priorities. “My parents fled Cuba to escape Fidel Castro in the sixties. They fled to come to the United States of America to experience freedoms to come for opportunity, and those are the same freedoms that Trump and Republicans are threatening,” said Marlene Galán-Woods, candidate for AZ-01 . “Health care for children, for our veterans, and for seniors is all at risk because MAGA Republicans, once again, chose to shut down the government instead of protecting Americans' health care. It's shameful. So let's be clear, Republicans own this shutdown. I am so proud to be part of this powerhouse group of Latina candidates backed by BOLD PAC. Let's flip this seat. Let's win back the House of Representatives.” “As a Marine Corps drill instructor, I had the honor of making the next generation of Marines. I know what servant leadership looks like. The only thing scarier than a United States Marine is a mom, and I am both,” said JoAnna Mendoza, candidate for AZ-06 . “The oath I took to defend this country does not expire, and I will not sit back while spineless politicians play games with our lives. I will fight to protect health care, lower costs, and deliver for working families across southern Arizona. That's why I am answering the call to serve again.” “Washington Republicans have made one thing very clear: they’d rather shut down the government than make sure that the people here in my district and Americans all across the country can afford health care. This is completely reckless, and here in my state, that's almost 100,000 people who are going to lose their coverage or have their insurance premiums double,” said Denise Powell, candidate for NE-02. “I'm a fired-up mom that is running for Congress because our communities are really hurting right now, and they deserve better than this mess that Republicans have created for us in DC.” “Our families are already paying the price for this Republican shutdown. Monthly healthcare premiums are rising, and the average enrollee is seeing an increase in premium costs. But here’s the thing, I don't walk away from a challenge. I've cleaned up messes before, and I approach issues head-on,” said Carol Obando-Derstine, candidate for PA-07 . “When I get to Congress, I'll never forget who I'm there to serve. We only need to flip three seats to take back the House in 2026 with the support of CHC BOLD PAC and this powerful slate of Latina candidates. I'm ready to clean house and deliver real results for our district.” BOLD PAC will continue highlighting Latina and Latino leadership across battleground districts, with an aggressive bilingual press and digital strategy focused on cutting through MAGA disinformation and reaching the Latino voters who will decide control of the House in 2026. ###
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."
