Biden Campaign Press Release - Biden for President Announces Latino Leadership Committee Co-Chaired by Former Secretaries Ken Salazar and Hilda L. Solis

The Latino Leadership Committee Will Consist of State and Local Leaders from Across the Country to Mobilize the Latino Vote

Today, Biden for President announced its Latino Leadership Committee, which includes a core group of Latino leaders who will work closely with campaign leadership to engage Latino voters and communicate how Joe Biden will fight for Latino families. The Committee will work closely with campaign leadership to recruit talent in battleground states, provide input on policy initiatives, engage community leaders, and provide input on Latino outreach. Los Angeles Supervisor and former Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and former Colorado United States Senator and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will serve as co-chairs of the Committee, which is composed of leaders from Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The Committee was established to reflect the diversity within the Latino community.

"As the nation falls further into unrest, unemployment soars, and COVID-19 cases spike, we need a leader at the helm who has the experience, moral fortitude, and compassion to not only guide this nation out of this crisis, but help the country heal," said former Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "With the Latino community being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 both economically and health-wise, it will be critical to have an ally in the White House. That ally is Joe Biden, and I'm honored to be leading the charge in mobilizing my Latino brothers and sisters to ensure that Donald Trump is a one term president."

"With 32 million Latinos eligible to vote, Latinos will be the largest non-white voting bloc in this upcoming election — and we are not taking that for granted. This campaign understands that the community is not a monolith and the necessity of having diverse voices in the conversations surrounding strategy and outreach " said former Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar. "Joe Biden understands the Latino community is a keystone to our democracy and future prosperity of the United States. We are proud to stand with him to end the Trump Administration assault on the more than 60 million Latinos across the nation, and to usher in a more just and prosperous nation for all Americans."

"I am running to build an America that works for everyone, and giving Latinos a shot at the American dream is a core part of my vision for this nation," said Vice President Joe Biden. "I am honored to have such a strong group of elected leaders on this committee— many who I have known for a very long time —that embody the diversity of the Latino community and I know that their insights will prove invaluable in supporting my campaign's Latino outreach efforts across the United States. And with my good friends Hilda and Ken leading the charge, I know that the committee will ensure that Latinos have a voice on my campaign. "

The announcement of the Latino Leadership Committee comes on the heels of the campaign's $15 million, five-week TV, digital, radio, and print advertising investment in English and Spanish-language content in Florida and Arizona, two critical battlegrounds for mobilizing the Latino vote. These investments represent a significant move early in the general election that reflects the seriousness of the campaign's outreach to the Latino community. Additionally, the campaign is continuing to host events, build community, and have conversations about the issues impacting Latino communities through the Todos con Biden network including the Charla con Dr. Jill Biden recently hosted with former Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis and labor activist Dolores Huerta.

The full Latino Leadership Committee includes:

Arizona
Congressman Raúl Grijalva
Congressman Ruben Gallego
State Representative Lorenzo Sierra
Mayor Regina Romero

California
Congressman Tony Cárdenas
Secretary of State Alex Padilla
State Senator Melissa Hurtado
Mayor Eric Garcetti
Mayor Robert Garcia

Colorado
Former Secretary Federico Peña
State Senator Bri Buentello
State Senator Leroy Garcia

Florida
Congressman Darren Soto
Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
State Senator Annette Taddeo
State Senator Janet Cruz
State Senator José Javier Rodríguez
State Senator Vic Torres

Georgia
State Representative Brenda López Romero
State Representative Pedro Marín

Illinois
DNC Hispanic Caucus Chair and State Senator Iris Martinez

Iowa
Des Moines School Board Member Rob Barron

Michigan
State Representative Alex Garza

Nevada
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto
Assemblywoman Selena Torres
Assemblywoman Susie Martinez

New Mexico
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
Attorney General Hector Balderas

New York
Congressman Adriano Espaillat
Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez

North Carolina
Mecklenburg County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell
Wallace Town Council Member Francisco Rivas-Diaz

Ohio
State Representative Jessica Miranda

Pennsylvania
State Representative Danilo Burgos

Rhode Island
Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea

Texas
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia
Congresswoman Veronica Escobar
Congressman Vicente Gonzalez
State Representative Victoria Neave
State Senator José Menéndez

Virginia
State Representative Alfonso Lopez
State Representative Elizabeth Guzmán

Wisconsin
State Representative and Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa