(Tony Sifert, Headline USA) Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has thrown an Oregon Latina Democrat candidate for the United States House of Representatives under the bus, according to a report in Politico.
Andrea Salinas, who currently serves in the Oregon House of Representatives, would be the first Latina from Oregon ever to serve in the United States Congress.
Though Democrats are usually fond of such historic firsts, the Pelosi-backed House Majority PAC has thrown its weight behind “a white, first-time candidate,” Politico reported.
The House Majority PAC has spent $1 million on ads for first-time candidate Carrick Flynn.
The decision was described by Latino political leaders in Oregon as a “slap in the face.”
“There’s all this talk about Latino voters, but where are we talking about Latino candidates and Latino representation and the party prioritizing that?” Yvonne Gutierrez, managing director for Latino Victory Fund, asked Politico. “[I]f [Democrats] care about Latino voters and Latino representation, this was an opportunity.”
“This is a highly competitive primary and we have four women in the race, three of whom are women of color,” Salinas herself told Politico. “I was really surprised that HMP would even think of weighing in this race.”
The House Majority PAC offered a tepid response to the criticism.
“House Majority PAC is dedicated to doing whatever it takes to secure a Democratic House Majority in 2022, and we believe supporting Carrick Flynn is a step towards accomplishing that goal,” the PAC’s communications director said.
Pelosi’s destruction of Salinas’ campaign came as recent polls have reported that Hispanics are threatening to leave the Democrat party in droves.
President Biden’s incompetence has led to a 43% drop in his approval rating with Hispanics over the last year, according to The Hill.
“Just 12 percent of Hispanics ‘approve strongly’ of Biden’s performance as president, while 54 percent ‘disapprove strongly’ or ‘disapprove somewhat,'” The Hill reported.
