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FROM NALEO

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund today released the following statement from CEO Arturo Vargas on Latino representation in Congress and state offices following Election 2020:
 
“From congressional races to state races, the candidates who ran for office this election cycle reflect the geographic and ideological diversity of the Latino community.  These candidates ran competitive races all across the country, once again demonstrating that Latinos can win from coast to coast.  NALEO Educational Fund congratulates the many Latino candidates on their victories.”
 
U.S. Senate newcomer:

- Ben Ray Luján (D), New Mexico  
U.S. House newcomers: 

- Carlos Gimenez (R), Florida – 26th District
- Maria Elvira Salazar (R), Florida – 27th District
- Teresa Leger Fernandez (D), New Mexico – 3rd District
- Nicole Malliotakis (R), New York – 11th District
- Ritchie Torres (D), New York – 15th District
- Tony Gonzales (R), Texas – 23rd District  
Statewide newcomer:

- Anna Tovar (D), Arizona Corporation Commission  
Re-elected statewide incumbents include:

- Lea Márquez Peterson (R), Arizona Corporation Commissioner  (Elected to first full term after having been appointed)
- Trinidad Navarro, Commissioner, Delaware Insurance Commission (D)
- Sean Reyes, (R) Utah Attorney General
 
“In state senates, Latinos saw a net gain of 10 seats, pushing the number of Latino state senators throughout the country up to 96, with Springfield City Councilmember Adam Gomez, Sr. (D) being the first Afro-Latino to serve in the Massachusetts State Senate.

Although Latinos in state lower houses saw a net loss of six seats across the country, 14 Latino incumbents who vacated state lower house seats successfully pursued higher office. 

The number of Latinos in state lower houses after Election 2020 will be 238 members, with former small business owner Mark Cisneros (R) being the first Latino elected to the Iowa State House of Representatives.
 
“Alongside the many new faces joining the ranks of the nation’s more than 6,800 Latino elected and appointed officials, there exists another opportunity for a significant addition to the nation’s Latino leaders. 

With the election of California Senator Kamala Harris as Vice President of the United States, Governor Gavin Newsom will make an appointment to her seat for the remainder of her term. 

Latinos are the largest population group in California, and in its 170-year history, the state has yet to have Latino representation in the U.S. Senate. 

Secretary of State Alex Padilla’s long career of public service makes him exceptionally qualified to fill the seat being vacated by Vice President-elect Harris, and NALEO Educational Fund
urges Governor Newsom to appoint Secretary Padilla to this seat.”
 
 
For more details on Latino representation in Congress and across the nation post-Election 2020, click here.

Click on the image to access the links.

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Latinos Are America's Economic Engine

Latinos who live and work in the U.S. were responsible for $2.3 trillion of gross domestic product in 2015, almost 12 percent of the country's $18.04 trillion GDP, before the pandemic hit the country. Today, the LDC U.S. Latino GDP Report is a must read for those eager to get the country's economy back up and growing.

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PEDRO J. PIZARRO
PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
EDISON INTERNATIONAL


Pedro J. Pizarro, one of America's top Latino energy executives responsible for Edison International, and oversees Southern California Edison, one of America's largest investor owned energy utilities, and Edison Energy. Click on photo for more information.

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Proposed CA Law Would Require Hispanic
and Other Minorities on Corporate Boards


Assembly Bill 979 (Holden, Garcia, Chiu, Hueso, Reyes)

Sacramento - California is on the verge of adopting a requirement for corporations to include Hispanics, Aisans, Blacks and Native Americans on their boards of directors. The legislation, AB 979, authored by Assembly Members Chris Holden (D), Christina Garcia (D), Eloise Reyes (D), David Chiu (D), and Senator Ben Hueso (D), has cleared the Assembly and appears to be on its way to passage by the California Senate. It then goes to Governor Newsom who has supported pushing the envelope on social equity issues, so, he is likely to sign the Bill into law.

The legislation is a reaction to the delayed response by top corporations to be inclusive in their governance by better reflecting their communities and customers.

Read the proposed text here.

Click on photo for more information

Esther Aguilera, President & CEO of the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA), stated, "LCDA researched all 662 publicly traded California-headquartered companies and found 87%, or 571 corporations, do not have a Latino on their board. It is unacceptable that in California, where Latinos make up 39.4% of the population, the most underrepresented community in the boardroom is the Latino community."

The Washington D.C. based Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) is a key data source to review the inclusion of Hispanics and other minority groups in corporate governance.

Here is a link to the LCDA list of the CA corporations without any Hispanics on their boards.

The proposed law is supported by:
  • Latino Journal
  • California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce


COMMISSIONER VALERIE ESPINOZA​
Public Regulation Commission - District 3
New Mexico

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Geisha Jimenez Williams Appointed to Siemens AG Supervisory Board
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CHAMPION OF NORTH AMERICAN TRADE
United States - Mexico - Canada
​
Click on title to read fascinating interview

The U.S. government recently approved the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The USMCA went into effect on July 1, 2020, but much work needs to be done to fully develop and implement regulations required by the new agreement. Leading this effort is Albert C. Zapanta, President & CEO, U.S. Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Dallas, TX

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ALBERT C. ZAPANTA
President & CEO
United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce - Dallas, Texas
Click on image for more information
​
Many leaders emerge from America's Latino community and volumes could be written about each. Al Zapanta is one. Zapanta, who is known as a highly decorated Viet Nam war hero, former head of public affairs of Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) and advisor to Presidents, is also a businessman who founded Paz Resources and was CEO of Paz Energy, a highly successful venture. And, he once served on the Board of Directors of Tyson Foods.

Today Zapanta serves on the Irvine (near Dallas), Texas City Council and conducts trade policy in North America with his U.S. Mexico Chamber of Commerce. His influence in shaping both the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) is notable.

Zapanta recently took a moment to be interviewed by the Latino Journal and we encourage you to read his remarks.


TRUMP BOLDLY MOVES TO EMBRACE HISPANIC AMERICANS
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WHY BIDEN SHOULD PICK
GOV. MICHELLE  LUJAN GRISHAM AS HIS VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE

By Alan Clayton, Latino Journal Political Analyst

Click on photo for full report

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GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM
Former Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D), Governor of New Mexico since 2019, has been in public service since 2004. She served as the appointed head of the State Health Department under former Governor Bill Richardson.

An attorney, Grisham won a local election to become a member of the Bernalillo County Commission from 2010 to 2012. She went on to win the race for the 1st Congressional District of New Mexico and served in Congress from 2013 to 2019.

Lujan Grisham chaired the Congressional Hispanic Caucus during the 115th U.S. Congress in 2017-18.

The Hill reported "According to a Latino Decisions poll, 72 percent of respondents said they would be more likely to turn out in November if Biden chooses a Latina as his running mate, and 67 percent said this would inspire them to support Biden."

Michelle Lujan Grisham is among the top women Biden is now considering for his running mate.


JAMES E. CAMPOS
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY - WASHINGTON D.C.

Exclusive Interview
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DENNIS V. ARRIOLA APPOINTED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AVANGRID

AVANGRID announced the appointment of Dennis V. Arriola as its newest Chief Executive Officer. He is set to start on July 20, 2020.

The company is based in Connecticut and is a diverse energy company with assets in wind, solar, geothermal, natural gas and electricity. It operates in 22 states.

Arriola is a long-time friend of Hispanics In Energy and has been recognized by various community organizations in the past decade.


New Leadership and New Direction at University of California

Click to Read Latino Journal Interview With John A. Perez 


Meet John A. Pérez, Chair, UC Regents​

Supreme Court Blocks Termination of DACA - Hispanic Community Jumps for Joy

Listen to Jose Feliciano's 'California Dreamin' to capture Hispanic sentiment over this Supreme Court decision


Hispanics In Energy 2020 Energy
​Legislative Outcome 

Washington D.C. - Last February, Hispanics In Energy held its second Energy Legislative Summit in partnership with the American Petroleum Institute (API) at their new headquarters facility near the nation's Capitol.
"It was the largest and most powerful gathering of Latino energy leaders in the country with al five Hispanic utility commissioners, several members of Congress, executives and officers and stakeholders from the industry," said Jose L. Perez, President & CEO of the organization.
The topics included: 1) supplier diversity for Hispanic owned businesses; 2) Hispanic American Energy STEM Institute; 3) energy company board governance and c-suite; and, 4) carbon policy impact on the Hispanic community.

See EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

COVID-19
PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL
Coronavirus - Latest Data - World/USA/State

Selected News:

PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL
RCP President Trump Job Approval ​

U.S. Supreme Court Decision to Temporarily Halt Citizenship Question from Moving Forward Marks Victory for Census 2020, Latino Community and Democracy
 
5-4 decision has halted the citizenship question from moving forward, sending the case 
back down to the lower court for further consideration
 
NALEO Educational Fund’s toll-free bilingual census hotline—877-EL-CENSO (877-352-3676)—will
be in full operation to answer questions from the Latino community

 
Washington, D.C.  – The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund today released a statement from CEO Arturo Vargas following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to temporarily halt the citizenship question from moving forward in Census 2020:

“Today’s decision from the U.S. Supreme Court has for the moment walked our nation back from the brink of a catastrophic disaster that would have inflicted a wound on our constitution and democracy that may never have healed.

“Choosing to send the case back to the district court in New York in a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court found that the U.S. Commerce Department’s rationale for adding the question was ‘contrived’ and raised questions about its motivations.  The New York District Court previously ruled that the Administration acted in error, with two other similar lower court rulings finding that the addition of the citizenship question also violated the U.S. Constitution.  The U.S. Commerce Department must now provide an alternative and reasonable justification to the lower court in order to move forward with a question on citizenship in Census 2020.

“While this victory is far from the settled, the nation’s highest court did send a clear message today that future cabinet members and administrations are not free to make arbitrary and politically motivated decisions at will, denying those with ill-intentions the power and discretion to fabricate excuses and ignore facts and laws free from consequences.

“We now call on the New York District Court to remove the citizenship question once and for all so that the U.S. Census Bureau can proceed with the clarity and certainty it needs to execute a Census 2020 that is fair, constitutional and accurate.”

“Even if the citizenship question is halted for good, we know this effort to undermine the progress of the Latino community and suppress the count of Latinos has left its mark on Census 2020.  Our work mobilizing the nation’s second largest population group remains more important than ever as we attempt to rebuild the trust that has been eroded over the course of this fight.  Standing alongside our nation’s Latino leadership and partners, we will work together to educate our community about this important development and make sure that every Latino is counted in the 2020 Census. 

“The Census Bureau understands as well as we do, that an undercount of Latinos, who account for nearly one of every five persons in the United States, would mean a failed Census for the country.  We have our work cut out for us, but the lack of a citizenship question will at least give us a fighting chance to attempt to tackle the monumental task of counting every person living in the United States.  We know it will still require millions in taxpayer dollars to overcome the lingering and chilling effects of the citizenship question effort on Census participation if we want a successful Census 2020.

“Through our nationwide ¡Hágase Contar! (Make Yourself Count!) Campaign, we will do our part to save the decennial count by engaging Latinos from coast to coast about the importance of participating in Census 2020.  Our toll-free bilingual hotline—877-EL-CENSO (877-352-3767)—will be in full operation to ensure that members of our community have the information they need to count themselves and their family members.

“The stakes are too high for the Latino community and our democracy to rest on our laurels.  Our dedication to a full portrait of this nation is unwavering, and we remain staunchly committed to ensuring a fair and accurate Census count of all persons in the United States, including Latinos and immigrants, as required by the U.S. Constitution. 

“We know the fight for a fair and accurate Census 2020 is far from over.  We hope for swift and absolute resolution from the New York District Court so that we can devote our time and resources toward healing our nation and working towards a full count of all persons in Census 2020.”


IT'S UNANIMOUS!
Every Los Angeles City Councilmember Endorses Herb Wesson for LA County Supervisor

Los Angeles, CA – Following an outpouring of support from respected leaders all across the 2nd Supervisorial District, today, LA City Council President Herb Wesson received the overwhelming support of every one of his fellow colleagues on the City Council, including Councilmembers Gilbert Cedillo, Paul Krekorian,  Bob Blumenfield, David E. Ryu, Paul Koretz, Nury Martinez, Monica Rodriguez, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Curren D. Price, Jr., Mike Bonin, Greig Smith, Mitch O'Farrell, Jose Huizar and Joe Buscaino. Together, these leaders represent nearly 60% of the 2nd Supervisorial District. This latest batch of endorsements serves as a testament to Wesson's unparalleled leadership skills and track record of getting things done on the City Council. Wesson hopes to replace termed-out LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas in next year’s open election.

In response to the news, LA City Council President Herb Wesson released the following statement: 

"It is a true honor to have earned the trust, support and confidence of my fellow councilmembers. I've worked side by side with these fearless leaders for over a decade and truly admire their passion for improving the lives of all Angelenos. As Supervisor, I will continue to fight for social, economic and environmental justice, and work tirelessly to ameliorate the affordable housing and homelessness crises."
Herb Wesson has earned the support of local Mayors and Councilmembers from virtually every city in the 2nd district--from Compton to Carson, from Gardena to Inglewood. For the last 30+ years, Herb Wesson has fought alongside community leaders and grassroots advocates to improve the lives of all Angelenos, as Chief of Staff to legendary LA County Supervisor Yvonne Burke, the 65th Speaker of the California State Assembly, the 1st African American President of the Los Angeles City Council and as a youth coach, mentor and father.

During his tenure as Council President, Wesson has presided over monumental policy initiatives that have made Los Angeles a better place to live, work and raise a family. These initiatives — which include raising the minimum wage, pension reform and consolidating city elections to increase voter turnout — have not only positively impacted local residents, but in many cases, sparked legislative responses at both the state and national level.

While real progress has been made in the last decade, Herb Wesson knows that there’s still more work to be done. That’s why he’s running for Los Angeles County Supervisor: to empower people and make a difference in the lives of local residents.

Herb Wesson currently lives in Los Angeles and is happily married to Fabian Wesson. They have four sons: Douglas, P.J. Herb III, and Justin Wesson.
For more information, please visit www.wessonforsupervisor2020.com

Strong Latino Voter Turnout Nationwide Helps Latino Candidates Make History in Election 2018
 
Latinos serving in U.S. House of Representatives will make history, increasing from 34 to 36 in the 116th Congress
 
Latino elected officials serving in statewide office will also reach new record, growing from 13 to 14 post-Election 2018
 
Washington D.C. – The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund today released its analysis assessing Latino gains in Congress and statewide office in 2018. A full roster of Latinos that will serve at these levels of office (including a breakdown by state and political party) is available here.
 
“Despite being ignored yet again by candidates and campaigns this year, Latino voters stepped up and made their voices heard in Election 2018,” stated Arturo Vargas, NALEO Educational Fund chief executive officer.  “A strong showing from Latino voters in Florida, Nevada and Texas helped Latino candidates secure milestone victories.”
 
As candidates, Latino leaders sought positions in Congress, statewide offices, and state legislatures across the nation in Election 2018.  Pursuing top offices in 36 states, Latino candidates ran in both traditional Latino population centers, and in regions with emerging Latino communities such as the Plains States, the Midwest, the Deep South, and New England.
 
Following Election 2018, the 116th Congress will feature the largest class of Latinos in history.  The U.S. House of Representatives will feature two more Latino members than in the 115th Congress, increasing from 34 to 36 (with the possibility of 37 if Xochitl Torres Small is declared the winner in yet to be decided close contest for NM-2).*  In Congress’ upper chamber, four Latinos will continue to serve in the U.S. Senate.
 
Key Findings from NALEO Educational Fund’s post-election analysis include: 

Latinos in the U.S. Senate Post-Election 2018: The number of Latinos serving in the U.S. Senate will remain at four.  Both incumbent U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) won their re-election bids.  They will return to join current Latino U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) in Congress’ upper chamber. However, Utah Senator-elect Mitt Romney's father was born in Mexico but does not claim being Latino.

Latinos in U.S. House of Representatives Post-Election 2018:   Class: The number of Latinos serving in the U.S. House of Representatives will reach a historic high, increasing from 34 to 36 (with the possibility of 37 if Xochitl Torres Small is declared the winner in the yet to be decided close contest for NM-2).*

Party Breakdown:  Following Election 2018, 31 Democrats and five Republicans will serve as Members of Congress (up from 27 Democrats and seven Republicans).

Gender:  The number of Latinas serving in the U.S. House of Representatives will increase by 2 (25 Males and 11 Females) from the previous Congress (25 Males and nine Females).  Election 2018 also featured the election of the first two Latinas to represent Texas in Congress.

New Faces:  There will be eight new faces when the U.S. House of Representatives gets sworn-in in the new year, including four new Latinas: CA-49:  Mike Levin (D) FL-26:  Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D) IL-4:  Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia (D) NY-14:  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) – youngest person elected to Congress NY-19:  Antonio Delgado (D) OH-16:  Anthony Gonzalez (R) – first Latino Member of the House from Ohio TX-16:  Veronica Escobar (D) – one of first two Latinas in House from Texas TX-29:  Sylvia Garcia (D) – Former NALEO President and one of first two Latinas in House from Texas.

Latinos in Statewide Office: Class: Following Election 2018, the number of Latinos in statewide office will increase from 13 to 14.*  This is a historic high for Latinos.

Party Breakdown: There will be an increase in the number of Latino Democrats serving in statewide office, increasing from six to 11.  Latino Republicans serving in statewide office will decline, shifting from seven to three post-election.

Gender: The number of Latinas serving in statewide office will increase by one (Nine Males and five Females).

New Faces:  NM: Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor (D) CA:  Ricardo Lara, Insurance Commissioner (D) FL:  Jeanette Nuñez, Lieutenant Governor (R) – first Latina to serve in this position in the state NM:  Howie Morales, Lieutenant Governor (D) NM:  Brian Colón, State Auditor (D) NM:  Stephanie Garcia Richard, Commissioner of Public Lands (D) Vargas went on to say, “Latino candidates continue to demonstrate their ability to successfully run for office across all fifty states, winning bids in areas with both Latino population centers and without. There is no such thing as a Latino or non-Latino district anymore, with Latinos once again bringing the expertise and skill needed to build support from a broad coalition of Americans in Election 2018.”
 
A full roster of Latinos that will serve in the 116th Congress and statewide office is available here. The roster includes a breakdown of Congressional representation gains/losses by state, party and district.
 
*Note: Election results are based on those published by states or media sources as of the writing of this release and are not yet official.

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A Full and Accurate Count of Latinos in Census 2020 is Important to 93 Percent of Latino Voters  

Results show Latinos also have deep concerns over Census 2020, with more than two-thirds
stating they do not trust the Trump Administration to keep confidential the information collected

 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Five weeks before Latino voters head to the polls for the 2018 midterm elections, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund and Latino Decisions released the results of the fifth wave of its ten-week national tracking
poll of Latino registered voters.
 
Results from the fifth week of the NALEO Educational Fund/Latino Decisions National Weekly Political Tracking Poll offer exclusive insights into the Latino electorate this year, including opinions on whether U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross should testify as part of the lawsuit over the addition of a census citizenship question and their level of trust in the Administration to keep confidential the citizenship information collected in Census 2020, the importance of a full and accurate count of Latinos in Census 2020, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh favorability trends, and more. 
 
Each week a fresh sample of 250 registered voters will be added and combined with the previous 250 interviews to create a rolling average, consistent with most tracking polls methodology.  This week’s poll of Latino registered voters nationwide was conducted by Latino Decisions from September 19 – October 1, 2018 (with a margin of error of 4.4 percent).
 
“These results show that all Latinos, including those who are U.S. Citizens and actively engaged in our political process, are deeply troubled by the Trump Administration’s intentions and actions around Census 2020,” stated Arturo Vargas, NALEO Educational Fund chief executive officer.  “Despite it being illegal for the Census Bureau to share personal information collected during Census 2020, the Latino community does not trust that this Administration will refrain from sharing confidential information about citizenship status with agencies like ICE.  If the citizenship question is not removed, we run the risk of an historic undercount in Census 2020.”
 
“Overwhelmingly Latinos think it’s important for the census to get an accurate count in 2020,” stated David Ayon, Senior Analyst at Latino Decisions.  “But our survey of Latino voters - who are all U.S. citizens - finds strong and consistent evidence of widespread fear over the new citizenship question added to the 2020 Census.  Big majorities of Latino voters don’t trust the Trump administration to protect the citizenship information of people in their community.  The implication is that there is going to be a greater net undercount of Latinos if the citizenship question is included.”
 
Key findings include:
  • Census 2020 is significant to Latino voters.  The nation’s upcoming decennial count is critical to the Latino electorate, with 93 percent stating that it is important for the Census Bureau to implement a complete and accurate count of the entire Latino population and that nobody is left out.
  • There is deep distrust that the Trump Administration will keep confidential the citizenship status information they collect in Census 2020.  Despite being against the law for the Census Bureau to share personal information, more than two-thirds (68 percent) of Latino registered voters, who are U.S. Citizens, do not trust the Trump Administration to keep confidential the private information it collects, including the citizenship status of immigrants.
  • Latino voters believe citizenship status and other private information will be shared with federal agencies like ICE.  With the addition of a citizenship question on the 2020 census, more than three-fourths (79 percent) of Latino registered voters are concerned that census answers about people’s citizenship status could be shared with other agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  Results show that concern for mixed-status households is high when it comes to Census 2020.
  • Support for Secretary Ross to testify as part of the lawsuit opposing the citizenship question addition is high.  More than three-fourths of Latino registered voters think Secretary Ross should turn over all memos and emails related to the citizenship question, and testify as part of the order from Judge Jesse Furman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
  • Shift to filling out the Census 2020 form online is met with mixed feelings.  Only slightly more than half of the Latino voters polled (53 percent) felt comfortable sending their household information for Census 2020 to the Federal Government through the Internet, with the remaining stating they were not.
  • Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s favorability ratings continue to decline.  The fifth wave of the poll results reveal that the number of Latino registered voters who hold unfavorable views of Kavanaugh is growing, increasing from 38 percent in week three to 51 percent in week five. 
“As the Kavanaugh nomination drags out, Latino voters continue to report increasingly negative views towards Kavanaugh, and there are spillover effects to the Republican Party as a whole,” said Matt Barreto, co-founder of Latino Decisions and Professor at UCLA.  “The big question is whether or not the Democratic Party will capitalize on this with increased outreach and mobilization or not?”
 
As we near Election 2018, NALEO Educational Fund will continue its efforts to ensure that Latino voters have the information necessary to make their voices heard at the ballot box.  These efforts include operating our toll-free bilingual hotline
1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682) that provides Latino voters with information on every aspect of the electoral process, from registering to vote, to voter ID requirements, to finding their polling place.  On Election Day, the hotline will be connected to the Election Protection efforts and 1-866-OUR-VOTE, offering Latino voters nationwide a bilingual resource to get assistance and report any problems they may experience at the polls.
 

To view the methodology and full toplines for week five of the ten-week tracking poll, visit http://www.latinodecisions.com/index.php/download_file/767/.
 

###
 
About NALEO Educational Fund
NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading non-partisan, non-profit organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.
 
About Latino Decisions
Latino Decisions is the nation's leading polling and research firm on Latino Americans, being called the "gold-standard in Latino American polling" by Time Magazine, and has implemented its weekly political tracking poll of Latino voters every cycle since 2010.


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GOVERNOR SIGNS CERVANTES BILL TO REFORM DISTRICT-BASED ELECTIONS
 
(SACRAMENTO) – Assembly Bill 2123 by Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona), photo above, was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown this week. AB 2123 would reform the existing process for local governments to transition to district-based elections by providing for a mutually agreed-to extension of up to 90 days to continue negotiations between local governments and potential plaintiffs.

“I am incredibly thankful to the Governor for signing this bill into law,” said Assemblymember Cervantes. “Assembly Bill 2123 will make it easier for cities in the Inland Empire and throughout California to navigate the transition to district-based elections. I am proud to bring our cities and voting rights organizations together to find a commonsense, bipartisan reform to the existing transition process.”
 
The bill is, in part, a response to pending litigation that the City of Norco is facing due to their at-large election system.
  • However, as this legislation cannot affect ongoing or pending litigation, the bill would not affect the City of Norco directly.
  • AB 2123 will apply prospectively to local governments beginning January 1, 2019.
AB 2123 is a consensus measure supported by the League of Cities, as well as voting rights organizations such as MALDEF, the ACLU, and Common Cause. You can find more information about AB 2123 here.


CHCI 2019 Plans Another 100 High School Students To D.C. Governance Experience

This summer, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) hosted its eighth R2L® NextGen class, comprised of not one but two cohorts of students, engaging a record 100 high school students from 13 different regions, including Puerto Rico.

Participating in the highly competitive program, students developed a deeper understanding of their role as engaged citizens through workshops, trainings, and face to face meetings with Latinos leading change in Washington - including 23 Members of Congress!

To learn more about these amazing students and their accomplishments, click here. 
Interested in applying to the 2019 program? Applications launch October 15 and will be due January 15, 2019. Visit CHCI for more details.

THANK YOU SPONSORS!  CHCI is proud to count on the continued support of its generous sponsors to make this transformative program available to deserving high school leaders from across the nation. This program was made possible by founding sponsor, State Farm®; Ford Fund, Macy’s (the official R2L NextGen wardrobe sponsor), Southwest Airlines (the official airline of CHCI Leadership Programs), Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., as well as a variety of regional supporters:
General Support
Verizon ⬩ American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers ⬩ Univision Communications. Inc.
Central Valley of California Regional Sponsors
The California Endowment ⬩ The Avalos Foundation
Central Florida Regional Sponsors 
Foundation for Orange County Public Schools
Coachella Valley, CA Regional Sponsors
KXLA-TV
Puerto Rico Regional Sponsors 
Mr. Luis A. Miranda, Jr. and Family ⬩ POLITANK ⬩ Hispanic Federation
Southern California Regional Sponsors 
Edison International/Southern California Edison ⬩ USC Sol Price School of Public Policy ⬩ Dan Epstein ⬩ Phillips 66 ⬩ GEAR UP 4 LA
South Florida Regional Sponsors 
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

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For sponsorship opportunities please contact us at development@chci.org.
Visit us at chci.org

CA SUPREME COURT KNOCKS OFF “3 CALIFORNIAS” INITIATIVE FROM NOVEMBER BALLOT 
Planning and Conservation League, Public Interest Attorneys
Prevail in Bid for Court Review
 


SACRAMENTO – Opponents of the ballot initiative to split California into three new states today applauded the unanimous decision by the California Supreme Court to hear its case to prevent the “3 Californians” measure from appearing on the state’s November ballot.

“Proposition 9 was a costly, flawed scheme that will waste billions of California taxpayer dollars, create chaos in public services including safeguarding our environment and literally eliminate the State of California – all to satisfy the whims of one billionaire,” said Planning and Conservation League Executive Director Howard Penn. “It would have dismantled the world’s fifth biggest economy without solving a single challenge facing Californians today. We are thankful to for the opportunity to save Californians from having to vote on a billionaire’s folly.” 

“The order is very unusual and dramatic because it takes the opposition off the ballot. The court has done that sparingly in the past," Penn added. "The only further questions are whether something like this could on future ballots and we are confident we will prevail on that when it is considered in the fall.” 

“We thank the Supreme Court for its decision on this straightforward case about a vastly overreaching proposed initiative statute that should be stricken from the November 2018 ballot,” said attorney Carlyle Hall. “We believe is clear that a ballot initiative may not revise the Constitution by making changes in the basic framework of government. And there can be no greater change our framework of government than the total abolition of our existing Constitution.” 

“Proposition 9’s built-in post-election uncertainties would have an immediate and adverse impact on the on-going operations of the executive, judicial, and legislative branches, as well as the administrative agencies and the private sector,” noted Hall. “Fortunately the Court has found Prop 9 has no legal place on the November 6th ballot.” 

“Putting this unpopular and flawed measure on the ballot in the first place was an act of political malpractice that gives direct democracy a bad name,” noted Fabian Nunez of the OneCalifornia Committee. “We are hopeful that Tim Draper will end his attempts to split up our state and use his resources to help California meet its challenges and become an even better place to live and work.” 

The challenge of the decision was led by the legal team of Kirk Dillman, Robby Mocker and Michael Miguel of McKook, Smith Henn, co-counsel with Carlyle Hall. 
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SECRETARY OF STATE ALEX PADILLA APPOINTED NATIONAL C0-CHAIR OF
NALEO CENSUS 2020 COMMISSION


SACRAMENTO - Today it was announced that California Secretary of State Alex Padilla will Co-Chair the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Official’s bipartisan National Latino Commission on Census 2020. “A fair and accurate 2020 Census requires that everyone in the United States is counted, including members of the Latino community. 

Red and blue states alike rely on the Census for their fair share of federal funding for education, health care, transportation and more, as well as the apportionment of congressional representation,” stated California Secretary of State Alex Padilla.  “With the inclusion of a citizenship question being litigated and the survey moving to a digital format while a significant digital divide still exists throughout the nation, we have a lot of work to do to ensure that all residents are informed, encouraged, and able to participate.  I look forward to working with School Board Member Navarro, NALEO Educational Fund and national partners on a nonpartisan basis to achieve a fair and accurate national population count in 2020.”

The NALEO Educational Fund established the National Latino Commission on Census 2020 to compile crucial information about the impact of the challenges facing Census 2020 on achieving a fair and accurate count of the Latino community and all of our nation’s residents.  The Commission will prepare a report that will include recommendations and best practices to address these challenges, and will be used to inform the future work of policymakers, elected officials, civic and community leaders, and other stakeholders.

The Commission will convene five to seven regional field hearings to solicit testimony from public officials, community organizations, and other stakeholders who are familiar with hard-to-count communities in the region.  These hearings will address: The impact of the Bureau’s Census 2020 operational plans on Latinos and other hard-to-count communities, including the changes from approaches used in Census 2010; The impact of the addition of a question on citizenship to Census 2020, including the effect on Latino participation in the Census; Assessment of community members’ experiences with the Bureau’s communications and outreach activities; Best practices for reaching and engaging Latinos and other hard-to-count populations to participate in Census 2020, including recommendations for ameliorating the undercount of very young children (under age five) which occurred in Census 2010; and Any other issues relevant to the purpose of the Commission. NALEO Educational Fund established the National Latino Commission on Census 2020 to help promote a fair and accurate count of Latinos and all of America’s residents. 

The Commission will terminate 60 days after the date on which the Commission publishes its final report.


Recognizing Latino Leaders

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New Hispanic Leadership Needed During Consequential Times

By Julian Canete, Peter Guzman, Cindy Ramos-Davidson, Carlos Gomez & Michel Zajur

As we watch the leadership crises of two historically significant, national Hispanic interest groups, we are reminded of something that was said by Hispanic comedian George Lopez: “When things are bad, it’s the best time to reinvent yourself.” These are important words for the Hispanic community to remember right now. We are living through a time that could deeply impact the position and role of our community; this is a good time to think again about how we are represented at a national level.

Both the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) have long served as gathering places for Hispanic Americans, offering national representation for our community as individuals and as business owners. Unfortunately, neither organization has strong footing at this moment. The board at USHCC has dismissed its president and CEO amid a sensational scandal involving accusations of financial and personal impropriety. Meanwhile, LULAC’s president is facing calls for his resignation after he applauded President Donald Trump’s plans for immigration reform.
In both cases, it strikes us that the role of the individual became greater than the role of the group — this is the beginning of the end of any effective leadership, and it pains us to see it happening in the Latino community in such a public way. Like any national leader, the men and women who preside over Hispanic organizations must put themselves and their personal views last while they faithfully represent their membership. The day an organization president or CEO believes that he or she is the organization is the day the organization begins to crumble.

Much like America herself, national advocacy groups (Hispanic or otherwise) do better when their power comes from — and remains with — the state and local level. As the heads of state and local Hispanic chambers of commerce, we are looking for national representation that recognizes that our organizations are in the best position to serve Hispanic business owners because we know them, and work with them, personally every day. Our groups will happily partner with organizations that can represent us in Washington, D.C., but our independence is important.

In the coming days, more than a dozen other heads of local and state Hispanic chambers in co-hosting a meeting of The Latino Coalition (TLC) — another national group that represents Hispanic entrepreneurs and consumers in the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. TLC’s focus is on business and economics, and on the public policies that provide the best opportunities for Hispanic Americans, particularly those who are starting or running their own businesses.

Those of us who are partnering with TLC are responding to their mantra of “leadership, integrity, community and partnership.” Our experience with TLC has been one where we are treated as equals. We have never been treated as “little” chambers, but instead as leaders ourselves. There is recognition that state and local Hispanic chambers are an important and lasting tradition that should be leveraged for the good of our community, not exploited for the benefit one or two high-profile officials.

TLC’s approach is certainly influenced by its leader — Hector Barreto, Jr. — who is the son of a well-remembered, well-loved leader in our community. Hector Barreto, Sr., was one of the original founders of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He was the visionary who, some forty years ago, first conceived of a national gathering place for state and local Hispanic chambers.

At a time when we have an opportunity to reinvent our national profile, Hispanic Americans should look for the leaders and groups who, like Barreto’s original Chamber, put us ahead of their own self-interest. That is where we will find a national gathering place and the voice we need during these consequential times.

Julian Canete is the president and CEO of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce; Peter Guzman is the president and CEO of the Latin Chamber of Commerce — Las Vegas, Nevada; Cindy Ramos-Davidson is the president and CEO of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Carlos Gomez is the president and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce — Greater Kansas City; Michel Zajur is the president and CEO of the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

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SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate Bill 17, authored by Senator Dr. Ed Hernandez, O.D., now heads to the Governor after receiving a final bipartisan vote of 31-8 by the entire Senate. SB 17 will force pharmaceutical companies to explain their reasons for rising drug prices. 
 
Senator Hernandez issued the following statement:
 
“California will soon be able to bring some much needed information regarding drug pricing by pharmaceutical companies. Although this state legislation was passed in California, it’s a monumental achievement for the entire nation. If signed into law, SB 17 will set national health care policy, having impact for consumers and providers in other states. Price increases don’t happen in a vacuum. SB 17 is one of the most transformative pieces of health legislation in the country.
 
“While pharmaceutical companies expended considerable resources to kill this bill, the California State Legislature stood strong on behalf of consumers. In the end, the issue of skyrocketing prescription drug costs isn’t a partisan issue and that’s been evidenced by the fact that we’ve brought together a bipartisan and diverse group of stakeholders.
 
“Moving forward, I encourage the federal government, especially California’s representatives in the U.S. House and Senate, to consider similar legislation as we continue this discussion at a national level. I’m willing to work with policymakers interested in advancing transparency and lowering health care costs.
 
“I believe health care is a human right, and that’s why I have dedicated my life to policies that make it more accessible and affordable for all Californians. We must continue the fight against skyrocketing drug prices.
 
“I want to thank the diverse coalition of consumer groups, labor, business, insurers, and other health organizations for helping to champion SB 17. I am hopeful the Governor helps move this cause forward by signing SB 17 into law.”
 
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SB 17 now moves to the Governor’s Office to await further action.
 
SB 17 promotes transparency in the health care system by requiring drug makers to give prior notice to purchasers before raising prices and requiring health plans to report the proportion of the health insurance that is spent on prescription drugs. Drug companies try to hide their price gouging by helping consumers with their co-payments or providing discounts to the uninsured, but all this does is shield consumers from the true cost of the drug while driving up insurance premiums for everyone.


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California May Move Presidential
Primary Election to March

Latino Journal – May 8, 2018
 
The California legislature is taking legislative action to move the State’s presidential primary election from June to March in hopes of giving California voters a louder voice in national politics.

SB 568, authored by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-LA), would do just that. The proposal, if adopted, would give California’s near last primary election to top tier of states.
California held its primary election in June in 2016 and resulted in Hillary Clinton winning the election when many thought Senator Bernie Sanders might cause an upset. Placing California among the first states with this kind of result would strongly influence the balance of the primary election process for president with a higher chance of influencing the outcome.

Secretary of State Alex Padilla is sponsoring the change and believes it will strengthen California’s influence in future presidential elections.

Senator Lara said, “California is first in the nation on clean energy, on farming, on job growth, and in the diversity of our people. The Prime Time Primary bill would make us one of the first states to hold a presidential primary and ensure our state’s voters are head in the national debate.”

Secretary of State Alex Padilla said, “The largest and most diverse state in the nation should not be an afterthought. Moving our primary earlier will give Californians a greater say in nominating a President and will also increase voter engagement and turnout in down ballot races.”

In 2008, California moved up its President Primary to February resulting in the highest voter turnout since 1980. However, according to a spokesman for Senator Lara, California had two primary elections that year resulting in higher costs so the February presidential primary election was scrapped to save money.

The Bill would take effect in 2020 the next presidential year. In non-presidential years the primary would still be held in June.

SB 568 aligns both the presidential and state elections on the same date so the State would not incur a higher cost to administer the primary election. The new California presidential and statewide primary would be held on the third Tuesday in March and authorizes the Governor to move it even earlier if other states move u their primary elections.

The Bill now goes to the Assembly where a similar measure has been introduced by Assembly Member Kevin Muller who is also Assembly Speaker pro Tempore.

Given the potential enormous advantage for California the likelihood of this passing and being signed into law is very high.
LJ


PictureKevin de León (D-LA), Senate President pro Temp
CALIFORNIA PREPARES  ITSELF TO FIGHT  TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICIES 
 
Just five days into office, President Trump today announced his executive order to bolster a wall in the southern border between the United States and Mexico. Reaction from Latino leaders has been swift and contentious to the new immigration policies initiated yesterday from Washington D.C.

On a border wall and Mexico

“A nation without borders is not a nation,” said President Trump as he addressed personnel at the Department of Homeland Security in Washington DC. “This is a law enforcement agency, but for too long, your offices and agents haven’t been allowed to properly do their jobs,” he said. “A nation without borders is not a nation,” he said.

President Trump also said he would focus first on those with criminal records. “We are going to get the bad ones out, the criminals and drug deals and gang members and cartel leaders. They day is over when they can stay in our country and wreak havoc.”

He also committed to hire an additional 5,000 border security agents and increase the number of immigration enforcement officers nationwide. He will be targeting sanctuary cities, local cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration cities.
The announcement has drawn both criticism and praise.

The Hill, an influential publication from Washington D.C. quoted Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill) “I suspect that a lot of Trump supporters would be just as happy with a big statue of a middle finger pointed south because both are about equally effective as national security strategies.

In California, the response was more pointed and more serious. It is led by Senate President Kevin de León (D-LA), Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.

Yesterday, Senator de Leon gathered legislative leaders for a press conference. Here is a video copy of his and his colleagues statements:

Video clip of California legislative leaders response to Trump's immigration policies.



Lack of Latino Cabinet Member Marks
Historic Step Backwards for Nation

 
Onus is now on President-elect Donald J. Trump to ensure Latino voices are heard
given lack of Latino presence in Cabinet for first time in nearly 30 years

 
Washington, D.C. – One day before President-elect Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) released a statement from Executive Director Arturo Vargas regarding the lack of a Latino cabinet member in the Trump administration:
 
“The next time the President of the United States convenes his most senior advisors and deputies in the Cabinet Room, there will not be a single Latino voice or perspective at the table for the first time in nearly 30 years.
 
“The exclusion of a Latino voice in President-elect Trump’s cabinet is a historic setback for the nation.  Latinos are the nation’s second largest population group, one of every four of America’s children, and the highest policy body of the country will now be void of its perspective. 
 
“With the success of the Latino community intrinsically tied to the success of the nation, the onus is now on the President-elect to bring in the voice and perspectives of Latinos into his decision making. 
 
“There is no shortage of talent among the deep bench of Latino qualified candidates in this country, and a Trump administration will need to ensure these individuals are able to put their skills to work for the good of the nation if we want to move America forward in the coming four years.
 
“More than 4000 appointments will need to be filled in the coming days and weeks, with positions ranging from Under Secretary to Deputy Secretary and on.  Given the lack of a Latino voice at the highest levels of the Administration, it is more important than ever that the President-elect makes sure there is full Latino representation in every government department and agency.”
 

NALEO Educational Fund released a 2017 Presidential Appointments Primer that provides guidance to Latino candidates interested in serving in the Trump administration.  The document is available for download here.
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About NALEO 
The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials is the non-partisan leadership organization of the nation’s more than 6,100 Latino elected and appointed officials.  




**NEW ANALYSIS AND BATTLEGROUND STATE POLLING RELEASED**
 
Latinos Poised for Potential Gains in Congress, 
Statewide Office and State Legislatures Post-Election 2016

 
Latino candidates running for top offices in at least 38 states, including in regions with emerging communities such as the Plains States, Midwest, Deep South and New England
 
Latest polling shows Hillary Clinton with sizeable lead among Latino voters in key battleground states, including Arizona, Florida, Nevada and North Carolina
 
Washington, D.C. – One day before the last presidential debate in Las Vegas, Nevada, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund released new Election 2016 analysis and polling during a briefing at the National Press Club today.  Video of the event and all materials are available at
www.naleo.org/election2016briefing.
 
“Latinos from coast-to-coast continue to make their mark on the nation’s political landscape as both voters and candidates,” stated Arturo Vargas, NALEO Educational Fund executive director.  “Election 2016 will be no different, with Latinos poised to show their political power in traditional Latino states like Texas and California, as well as in the emerging Latino areas of the Deep South, Midwest and New England.”
 
According to
new analysis from NALEO Educational Fund, Latinos are poised to see potential representation gains at the federal and state levels following Election 2016.  Running for top posts in 38 states nationwide this election season, Latino candidates are demonstrating their ability to successfully pursue seats in the executive and legislative branches of government across the country.  Key findings show:
  • The number of Latinos in the U.S. Senate could increase from three to five, if all competitive contenders win their bids (incumbent U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) are not up for re-election). Contests include:
    • Florida: Incumbent U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R) faces a challenge from U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D).
    • Nevada: Former State Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto (D) is battling U.S. Rep. Joe Heck (R) for the seat being vacated by retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D).
    • California: U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D) faces a tougher contest with California Attorney General Kamala Harris (D).
    • If elected, Cortez Masto and Sanchez would be the first Latinas in the U.S. Senate, and the first Latino to serve in Congress’ upper chamber from their respective states.
  • Latinos in the U.S. House of Representatives could increase by as many as seven, from 29 to 36, with the likely addition of several new Latinos post-Election 2016. Races include:
    • California: Latino candidates for U.S. Representative who have good prospects of winning include Santa Barbara County Supervisor Salud Carbajal (D CA-24), and former state legislator and Orange County Supervisor Lou Correa (D CA-46).
    • Florida: State Senator Darren Soto (D FL-9) is poised to become the first Puerto Rican to represent Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    • New York: State Senator Adriano Espaillat (D NY-13), faces no serious opposition in his contest. If victorious, Espaillat would be the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House.
    • Texas: Attorney Vicente Gonzalez (D TX-15) faces excellent prospects of victory for the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D).
  • At the statewide executive level, five Latino candidates are running in four states, including Indiana (2), New Mexico, Delaware and Illinois. 
  • The number of Latinos in State Senates could increase from 73 to 80 after Election 2016, with potential net gains in Arizona (3), Florida (1), Illinois (1), West Virginia (1), and Wyoming (1).
  • In state lower houses, there could be a net increase in the total number of Latinos from 234 to 245. 
    • California may see the largest potential net gain (3), followed by Colorado and Florida (2 each).  
    • States which could see net losses include Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, and New York.
During the briefing, NALEO Educational Fund also presented new battleground state polling of Latino voters in Arizona, Florida, Nevada and North Carolina conducted by Latino Decisions between September 26 - October 13, 2016.  Major findings from the poll include:
  • Hillary Clinton would win Latino voters in key battleground states by a wide margin if the election were held today, including in Arizona (70 percent), Florida (63 percent), Nevada (72 percent) and North Carolina (69 percent);
  • The majority of Latino voters (78 percent nationwide) are almost certain they will cast ballots in Election 2016, including in Arizona (83 percent), Florida (78 percent), Nevada (76 percent) and North Carolina (73 percent);
  • Key issues for Latino voters vary state-by-state, especially with regard to passing comprehensive immigration reform.  Florida Latino voters did not see this as one of their top three issues (terrorism ranked highest) this election, compared to voters in Nevada and North Carolina who noted it as their top issue in 2016.
The Latino electorate is expected to play a decisive role in Election 2016, with NALEO Educational Fund projecting that more than 13.1 million Latinos will cast ballots nationwide. 
 
In lead up to Election Day, NALEO Educational Fund will continue its efforts to ensure Latino voters are prepared to cast ballots this year, including operating our toll-free bilingual hotline 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682) that provides Latino voters with information on every aspect of the electoral process.  On Election Day (and Election Eve), the hotline is connected to the Election Protection efforts and 1-866-OUR-VOTE, offering Latino voters nationwide a bilingual resource to get assistance and report any problems they may experience at the polls.

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About NALEO Educational Fund
NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading non-profit organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.




Speaker Rendon Statement on the Appointment of Eloy Ortiz Oakley as California Community Colleges Chancellor

SACRAMENTO—Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) released the following statement regarding the appointment of Eloy Ortiz Oakley as the new chancellor of California Community Colleges:
 
“In less than a decade at the helm, Eloy has transformed Long Beach City College into a world class college that serves all facets of the community – students seeking to transfer, career technical education students, and adult learners. His successful work on boosting transfer rates for underserved students and on the Long Beach College Promise program has become a model for colleges statewide.
 
“It’s only fitting that Eloy will now be able to take his success in Long Beach and implement that vision for all California Community Colleges. I thank Eloy for his service to Long Beach and look forward to our continued partnership to make quality, affordable college achievable for every Californian.”
                                                                                                                              
Website of Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon: www.asmdc.org/speaker
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Hispanic congressman: California Dems lack of support for Loretta Sanchez is ‘disgraceful’

Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas) blasted the California Democratic Party for backing Attorney General Kamala Harris over Rep. Loretta Sanchez in the primary for U.S. Senate.

Vela in a statement Wednesday said the party’s active support of Harris “is insulting to Latinos all across this country.”

“Congresswoman Sanchez has served her Party and her state in an exemplary fashion for over 20 years,” he also said in the statement. “Surely, grassroots California Democrats will recognize that such disgraceful treatment of Congresswoman Sanchez will only lead the party in a foolish direction.” READ MORE
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Making History: Who Are the Latinos Leading California's Legislature?

_SACRAMENTO, Calif. - It was a bus route past a community college campus that got Anthony Rendon thinking there was perhaps a bigger world out there for him. For Kevin de León, an anti-immigrant ballot initiative, Proposition 187 drove him to go beyond the world he knew in his Logan Heights neighborhood in San Diego.
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Today, Rendon and de León are the Latinos in charge at the California Legislature. Rendon, 48, is speaker of the California Assembly and de León is the Senate President Pro-Tem.
​READ MORE

Latino Journal EXCLUSIVE: 
Linda Katehi, UC Davis Chancellor Urged to Resign

Statement from Attorney Melinda Guzman on behalf of her client, UC Davis Chancellor, Linda Katehi

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“Tonight’s action is disappointing, unprecedented and, based on the facts, entirely unjustified.

Since the day she was hired, the Chancellor has given her unwavering devotion to fulfilling the fundamental public mission of UC Davis and doing everything the UC President and Board of Regents have asked her to.

By any measure – and according to numerous voices throughout the Davis and Sacramento communities -- her leadership has helped put the university on a path to globally recognized excellence and historic diversity.  More Californians than ever before – including more women and more students of color -- are receiving a world-class education at UC Davis under her stewardship.

This smacks of scapegoating and a rush to judgment driven purely by political optics, not the best interests of the university or the UC system as a whole.

The Chancellor welcomes an independent, objective investigation and a full release of all relevant documents and public records.
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Make no mistake: we intend to vigorously defend Linda’s professional reputation and her standing as Chancellor of the university she loves.”



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Hispanic Voter Registration Spikes

Registration among Hispanic voters is skyrocketing in a presidential election cycle dominated by Donald Trump and loud GOP cries to close the border. Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Elected and Appointed Officials, projects 13.1 million Hispanics will vote nationwide in 2016, compared to 11.2 million in 2012 and 9.7 million in 2008. READ MORE

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval endorses John Kasich for president

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Gov. Brian Sandoval on Saturday endorsed Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the Republican presidential primary. Sandoval also joined his campaign as a national co-chair.

“Governor Kasich and I entered office at the same time with the same primary objective: to put people back to work,” Sandoval said in a statement. “Under John Kasich’s leadership, Ohio’s economy has undergone an incredible transformation. Over 425,000 jobs have returned to the state and people have hope again.”

Sandoval had declined to endorse any of the GOP candidates prior to Nevada’s caucus. He voted for Sen. Marco Rubio at the Nevada caucus. The Kasich campaign announced Sandoval’s support. READ MORE
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43 senators join challenge against Obama's executive actions on immigration

The legal challenge to President Barack Obama’s actions on immigration gained the support 43 Republican senators who argue that the president overstepped his constitutional authority in unilaterally expanding programs for millions of undocumented immigrations.
Led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the senators filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case of United States v. Texas on Monday – a lawsuit with 26 states challenging Obama’s actions. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments later this month with a rule possibly coming in June.
READ MORE

What is the Latino Vote Anyway?

According to Pew, Latinos of Mexican origin are 53.5 percent of the electorate, 13.8 are Puerto Rican, Cubans are 6.6 percent and Central Americans and South Americans together are 18.8 percent of the eligible voters. A group Pew refers to as "other Spanish" is 7.9 percent. READ MORE.

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Rise of Latino Political Power in Sacramento Could Give New Momentum to Health Care

When Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, is sworn in as Assembly Speaker Monday, it will mark a historic moment in California politics: For the first time, the two top posts in the state legislature will be held by Latinos. READ MORE

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Bernie Sanders' "Tenemos Familias" Ad: A Latino Face on Inequality

The docu-ad provides the account of how in 2008 when the tomato pickers were first fighting for increased wages and improved working conditions Sanders went down to Immokalee. He then came back to Washington D.C. where he held hearings on the issue. The political pressure spurred by Sanders coupled with the public support for the pickers led improvements for the workers. READ MORE

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Latino vote: Will the sleeping giant finally choose the next president?

Rudy Zamora senses history in the making for that long-sleeping giant in the presidential election: the Latino vote. He will become a first-time voter in the November general election, taking one step toward erasing Latino voters' spotty record of registering and actually going to vote.
"We need to show the country that we're ready to take on the battle," said Zamora, 29, who will become a U.S. citizen later this year, allowing him to cast his first ballot. "I clearly believe Latinos have the power to elect the next president of the United States," he added. READ MORE

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Congressman Becerra accuses Cruz, Rubio of 'running from their Latino heritage'

One of the highest ranking Latinos in Congress says that presidential contenders Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are deniers of their Latino heritage. In a videotaped conversation with South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison, Congressman Xavier Becerra, a Californian who heads the House Democratic Caucus, said the two senators seem to be distancing themselves from their Hispanic roots. READ MORE

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Activists Mobilize Iowa's Growing Latino Population Toward Caucuses

When you think of Iowa, you probably think — lots of white people. And, that's true, but the state is also home to a growing number of Latinos.
Hispanics now make up 5.6 percent of the state's population, according to 2014 estimates from the Census Bureau. To put that in perspective, that means the Hispanic community in Iowa these days is twice the size it was during the 2000 caucuses.
And, this year, for the first time, Latinos in Iowa are trying to systematically organize themselves to caucus. READ MORE

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Presidential contenders enter critical phase of 2016 election

There are just 26 days left before the Iowa caucuses and 34 days until the New Hampshire primary. That means every day is critical for every candidate as they make decisions on where to spend their time and where to spend their money. On Tuesday, nine of the 10 leading candidates for the Republican nomination were in either Iowa or New Hampshire. Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton was also in Iowa, though her main rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), was delivering a major speech on Wall Street reform in Manhattan. It is becoming clearer with each passing day what each candidate needs to do in the early states — and where they are focusing their efforts. READ MORE

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The Year in Latino Politics: Hispanics 'Trumped' By GOP Rhetoric

The year started with a record number of Latinos entering Congress and the buzz over what 2016 will mean when it comes to Latino representation. But the elation has had a hard time penetrating Donald Trump's cloud of anti-Mexican, anti-immigrant statements and his ascendancy among GOP candidates. So that's where we'll begin our review of political happenings that caught the attention of the Latino community in 2015: READ MORE

Three Facts About Latino Voters That Media Got Wrong In 2015 But Can Improve In 2016

Leading up to the 2016 elections, media should be careful not to perpetuate the same myths about Latino voters that many pushed in 2015, including portraying Latinos as a monolithic voter bloc exclusively interested in immigration or superficially attracted to Hispanic or bilingual candidates regardless of their policies, and suggesting this growing demographic will be a "non-factor" in 2016. READ MORE.
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Hillary Clinton Picks Up Another Key Endorsement from Latino Lawmaker

BROOKLYN, New York - Hillary Clinton announced a new piece of her immigration reform policy here Monday, after receiving a key congressional endorsement from a leading voice in the Latino community. Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez praised Clinton as someone who would work to "keep families together and stop them from being destroyed by a broken immigration system" by protecting President Obama's executive orders on immigration. Gutierrez formally backed Clinton in a Univision op-ed published earlier in the day. READ MORE

The Supreme Court may change ‘one person, one vote.’ This would hurt Latinos and Democrats.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case Evenwel v. Abbott. The main issue in the case is who must be counted when district lines are drawn.
The “one person, one vote” principle in operation since the 1960s has typically been interpreted to mean all persons — including people who cannot vote, such as children and non-citizens. The suit brought by Evenwel against the state of Texas seeks to change the definition to eligible voters.

The consequences of such a move are already being debated. Now, some new evidence from political scientist Carl Klarner suggests what the consequences would be: less voting power for Latinos and Democrats. READ MORE

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Two Clintons. 41 years. $3 billion.

 Over four decades of public life, Bill and Hillary Clinton have built an unrivaled global network of donors while pioneering fundraising techniques that have transformed modern politics and paved the way for them to potentially become the first husband and wife to win the White House. The grand total raised for all of their political campaigns and their family’s charitable foundation reaches at least $3 billion, according to a Washington Post investigation. READ MORE
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Why Aren’t Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz Hispanic Enough for Whites?

Some high-profile liberals in the media aren’t satisfied with the fact that most Hispanics—about two-thirds, according to voter surveys—are registered Democrats. The lefties have to go for broke and try to make the very word “Hispanic” synonymous with “Democrat,” which would mean that only Hispanic Democrats are genuine Hispanics. READ MORE

Access Latina Non-Profit Aims to Boost, Grow Latina-Owned Businesses

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AccessLatina, a non-for-profit organization pioneering entrepreneurial growth for women, announced the launch of the first-ever multi-market accelerator program developed to reach one of America’s fastest growing populations – Latinas – in STEAM, social innovation and agriculture. The accelerator was launched by two female entrepreneurs: Lucienne Gigante and Marta Michelle Colón. READ MORE
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Landmark Climate Bill, SB 350, Signed into Law

Senate Bill 350, Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León’s landmark climate change and clean energy legislation, was signed into law at a ceremony overlooking his district in Los Angeles on Wednesday October 7, 2015. SB 350 requires California, the largest state in the union, to generate half of its electricity from renewable energy sources and double energy efficiency in all buildings by 2030, while also substantially building the infrastructure for electric transportation. The landmark measure doubles down on California’s global leadership in powering the new economy of tomorrow. READ MORE

Democratic Caucus Chair Xavier Becerra Hosts Latino Leaders Roundtable

Latino leaders from across the country were invited to attend a roundtable meeting Tuesday with White House and Democratic congressional leaders to discuss issues affecting Latino families and what's being done to address them. The more than 20 Hispanic leaders invited to the meeting were set to discuss issues like immigration, health care, education and the economy. The meeting is hosted every year by Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra. READ MORE

40 Under 40: Latinos in American Politics

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate our ever-so important growing demographic in the United States for our worldwide achievements and contributions to American culture. Given the recent wave of anti-immigrant and anti-Latino sentiment that this election cycle has reignited, this year's list focuses on Latinos who are rising fast and showing what we can do. Selection for this list was done by a committee of peers -- some partisans; some not. Without further ado...here are 40 Latinos under 40 years old to watch in this upcoming election cycle. This new generation of political talent is listed here in alphabetical order by first name. READ MORE
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LA RAZA PROJECTS: 16.7 MILLION LATINOS REGISTERED TO VOTE BY 2016

With just under a million Latino U.S. citizens turning 18 each year, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) is projecting that by 2016, 16.7 million Latinos will be registered to vote. On National Voter Registration Day, NCLR issued a call to eligible Latinos in the U.S. to “Defeat bigotry on the campaign trail—register and vote!” READ MORE

Top 6 Facts on the Latino Vote

On September 17, 1787—exactly 228 years ago today—the nation’s founders signed the Constitution of the United States. Each year on this date, Americans celebrate Constitution Day, also referred to as Citizenship Day. To mark the occasion this year, the White House Task Force on New Americans—which President Barack Obama established last year to improve the civic, economic, and linguistic integration of immigrants and refugees—is launching the Citizenship Public Education and Awareness Campaign. The campaign promotes the importance of U.S. citizenship and provides free citizenship preparation resources for those eligible to become citizens. The goals of the campaign are to invite permanent residents to learn more about citizenship, ensure that permanent residents and community organizations have access to trusted sources of information, and provide those working toward citizenship with access to service providers.

Becoming a citizen through naturalization allows an individual to exercise one of the most sacred rights and responsibilities bestowed upon Americans by the Constitution: the right to vote. In order to fully exercise their voting rights, citizens over age 18 must first register to vote. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which began two days ago on September 15, a coalition of more than 100 organizations launched the Hispanic Heritage Month of Action, an on-the-ground and digital campaign to urge Latinos to register to vote.

In honor of these occasions, here are six important facts about Latinos and their voting power. READ MORE

GOP touts Latino outreach during Hispanic Heritage Month

The Republican party is launching a new wave of outreach to Latinos to mark Tuesday's onset of Hispanic Heritage Month, as the front-runner in the party's presidential race continues to alarm party insiders who fear he could alienate the fast-growing ethnic group with his criticisms of people living in the U.S. illegally.

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Hispanic Heritage Month Perfect Backdrop For GOP Debate, Latino Congressman Becerra Says

Hispanic Heritage Month started on Sept. 15, on the eve of the second GOP debate. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) Hispanic Media Director Pablo Manriquez and Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., assessed some of the GOP candidates and what Latinos should consider. READ MORE
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Why climate law advocates are watching these black and Latino lawmakers

Senate leader Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) is author of a contentious climate change bill on gasoline use and renewable energy.
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Every 30 Seconds, a Latino Reaches Voting Age. You Read That Right.

 Republicans and Democrats looking for voters in 2016? Every 30 seconds, a Latino turns 18 and becomes eligible to vote. That's about 66,000 every month, or 800,000 every year, according to the Pew Research Center. Latino millennials represent an untapped voting bloc for Democrats and Republicans alike. They are growing faster than other ethnic groups and are mostly American citizens. They are more likely to be bilingual and more likely to use mobile technology. READ MORE.

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How Jeb Bush's Family History and Latino Voter Outreach Could Boost His Presidential Bid

Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, speaks to attendees at the Iowa State Fair Soapbox in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., on Friday, Aug. 14, 2015. Sampling a fried Snickers bar and sidestepping a few hecklers, Bush made his way through the Iowa State Fair on Friday as he tried, and at times showed signs of struggling, to present himself as a fresh voice in the Republican presidential field.
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Hillary Clinton Campaign Stands Up For Latino Immigrants While Slamming Trump and Walker

Hillary Clinton’s campaign called out both Scott Walker and Donald Trump for their positions of support for extreme anti-immigrant policies.

Silicon Valley Has the Tools to Hack Its Diversity Problem

Recently the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) led a delegation of leaders for a summit and meetings with Silicon Valley company executives to discuss a roadmap to bridge the diversity gap. With Latinos averaging 4.5 percent and African Americans 2.5 percent of the Silicon Valley workforce, the sector is missing out on top diverse talent. We had a constructive dialogue with glimmers of positive trends, but we know Silicon Valley has the tools to hack its diversity problem. READ MORE.

For Latinos, Environment Seems Just As Important As Immigration

An increasing amount of research suggests the environment — an issue that has long been seen within the purview of progressive, white liberals — is now increasingly important to Latinos.

Opinion: California Senate leader de León melds two worlds

Kevin de León, the first Latino leader of California’s Senate in more than a century, remembers riding the bus with his mother, Carmen, a Mexican immigrant, as she traveled to her menial job on the fringes of American society. - Marcos Breton Sacbee.com

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'Hispanic paradox' - U.S. Latinos outliving richer whites - not genetic, study finds

Hispanics are living longer than whites or blacks – and are surpassing the life expectancy of other groups – according to a comprehensive report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday. The data used for the report came from health surveys, death and U.S. census data and covered the years 2009 through 2013.

It's official: Latinos now outnumber whites in California

The official confirmation had to wait until new population figures were released by the Census Bureau this summer. The new tally, released in late June, shows that as of July 1, 2014, about 14.99 million Latinos live in California, edging out the 14.92 million whites in the state.
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Report shows a troubling turn for Latino politicians and voters

California Latino voting strength is only half their proportion of California's population, the report said. They hold 1 in 8 state Senate seats and an even smaller percentage of supervisorial chairs.

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Arizona Law That Banned Mexican-American Studies May Be Discriminatory, Court Rules A federal appeals court on Tuesday ordered a trial to assess whether an Arizona law that was passed to ban a Mexican-American studies curriculum in Tucson's public schools intentionally discriminates against Hispanics. READ MORE. 



Other News

The Growing Success of Latina Political Candidates 
By Christina Bejaranolm Latino Decisions
When Latinas Succeed, America Succeeds
Huffington Post 4/13/2015
Texas Declares May 1 'Mexican-American Studies Day' 
Huffington Post 5/1/2015
Latino Political Network launched in Iowa
Ottumwa Courier Online
Latino groups question commitment of political donors to community

MSNBC News Online

Latino Political Statistics

GET INFORMED: Latinas in US Politics

Tweets by @LatinoJournal96

Latino Journal Digital!
Weekly Coast-to-Coast Distribution to Thought Leaders and Key Influencers in North America!

Click to read recent editions:

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico
​James E. Campos, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, Dept. of Energy
​Dennis V. Arriola, CEO, AVANGRID
Meet John A. Perez, Chair, UC Regents

​Meet Chair Rebecca Cameron Valcq, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Arizona Commissioner Lea Marquez Peterson, New Mexico
- June 1, 2020
Commissioner Maria Bocanegra, Illinois Commerce Commission - May 25, 2020
California Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves, CPUC - May 18, 2020
Meet Utility Commissioner Sadzi Martha Oliva, Illinois - May 11, 2020
Meet Commissioner Valerie Espinoza from New Mexico - Cinco de Mayo!

Latino Journal is very excited to release the Special Soccer Edition, featuring Dorene Dominguez on our cover. She's part-owner of the Sacramento Republic FC and the only Latina owner of a professional soccer club. See the full-digital version here.

COMPLIMENTARY HARD COPY Past Editions:

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​Thank You Charter Communications 

Charter Communications helped to prepare and distribute via their cable television network the video below to increase the Latino vote.

We sincerely appreciate this collaboration and sincerely thank the company for stepping up to the plate.

Latino Get Out To Vote Message from the Latino Journal and Charter/Spectrum Communications.
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Publisher's Corner
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José L. Pérez, Founder, Publisher & CEO of the Latino Journal since 1996. Twenty-four years later, the Journal has gone from hard copy, to consulting, policy forums, non-profit development and now, Latino Journal Digital.

In 2020, Latino Journal nurtures its Coast to Coast Latino Network and is building networks in Mexico and Canada to fulfill the dream behind the USMCA trade agreement. This combination adds a combined Latino market value in North America of $3.5 trillion with a combined population of 
  • 60 million Hispanic Americans (includes Puerto Rico)
  • 129 million Mexicans
  • 189 million Hispanics
Other countries included in North America are:
  • Guatemala
  • El Salvador
  • Cuba
  • Belize
  • Honduras
  • Nicaragua
  • Costa Rica
  • Panama
  • Jamaica
  • Bahamas
  • Dominican Republic
  • Trinidad
Hispanic North America is a giant value added population that can enhance the economic, cultural and civic direction of America. 

We are proud to be sponsors of making a better America for tomorrow.

José L. Pérez
Publisher
916.752.4396 (Text only)

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Latino Vote News

The race is on for the Latino vote
By Mary Jordan, Washington Post

Martin O’Malley Announces Candidacy for President: Can He Win the Latino Vote?
By Rodrigo Ugarte, Latin Post

2016 Candidates Need More Than Spanish To Win The Latino Vote
By Sara Bondioli, Huffington Post 

Candidates facing more Latino voters who don’t speak Spanish
By Haya El Nasser, Aljazeera America

Why Hispanics Don’t Have a Larger Political Voice
By Nate Cohn, NY Times

The Ballooning Importance Of The 'Latino Vote,' In 3 Charts 
By Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR

What Latino voters care about more than immigration 
By Patrick Gillespie, CNN

ENERGY

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Hispanics In Energy (HIE) is a community-driven, non-profit organization designed to facilitate Hispanic inclusion in America’s energy industry. It is a resource for the energy industry, utility companies, municipalities, elected or appointed officials with oversight responsibility of energy related policies and practices, and communities on comprehensive energy matters. Visit the website here.

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Invitation to Reception Honoring Geisha J. Williams, PG&E (Click to register online)

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Poll Reveals: Latino Communities See Solar Energy as High Priority

Poll results were finalized by the William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI) to reveal the large majority of Latinos in Southern California support and want to see a shift toward rooftop solar energy in our communities. The findings are very similar to those of a survey done last year, and further support EHC's movement for green, clean energy and illustrate the increasing prioritization of solar panel energy in Latino urban neighborhoods most affected by air pollution and dirty energy. 

Latino Voters Are Crucial To the Environmental Movement; Studies Prove Most Consider Climate Change 'Very' Important With around 54 million Latinos living in the United States these day, Latino voters are easily a major factor in determining the outcomes of elections.
Latinos Are Making the Call for Climate Action. Now Leaders Should Listen. 
Latinos don't need to be told that climate change is a problem that needs addressing. 
Report: Latinos want environment-friendly candidates
Hispanics are increasingly more likely to vote for candidates who support climate change action and cleaner energy.

EDUCATION

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Latinos must 'start offending people' on education, Christie says
Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday urged the community's most powerful business leaders to flex their political muscle and "start offending people" to fix the country's education system.





5 facts about Latinos and education

Educational attainment among U.S. Latinoshas been changing rapidly in recent years, reflecting the group’s growth in the nation’s public K-12 schools and colleges. Over the past decade, the Hispanic high school dropout rate has declined and college enrollment has increased, even as Hispanics trail other groups in earning a bachelor’s degree.

Taking Care of Latino Elderly

http://www.canhr.org/factsheets/nh_fs/html/fs_challengingdischarge.htm

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Tribal Economic Opportunity and Labor Education Plan
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List of TERO Contacts

Data Track Definition and Metrics

Enbridge Energy Q4 Report to MPUC

​Enbridge Energy Q1 Report to MPUC​ 

Enbridge Energy Q2 Report to MPUC

TLL3 Data Request

Enbridge Energy Indigenous Peoples Policy

Overview - Implementation Framework of Enbridge Energy Indigenous Peoples Policy

API Community Engagement Guidelines for Pipeline Projects

Tribal Engagement Organizational Chart

Through the Line - Construction plan, public information

Seven Teachings of Anishinaabe Nations

L3RP - Let's get ready to work together (employment outreach)

Line 3 Replacement Project Native Business Resource Directory

Five Skies Empowerment Training

Empower Training Schedule for November 2020 (sample)

LIUNA Pipeline Safety Training

Tll3 Letter to Tribal Councils Offering Briefing on Compliance Audit

Tribal Liaison Delegation
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Mainline Construction Organizational Chart

Enbridge Facility in Duluth Organizational Chart

MPUC May 1, 2020 Order

LIUNA Laborer Wages and Benefits

​Enbridge Energy Q3 Report

​Enbridge Energy Q4 2022 Report