Staff Reports
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) holds significant influence in Washington, DC, but at present, it does not have any employees working in a political capacity. This follows the recent dismissal of its executive director by Chairwoman Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA).
All-Democrat Hispanic Caucus Down to Zero Staff Members: Reporthttps://t.co/Ls2lFEQfkc
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 10, 2023
As reported by The Hill, Jacky Usyk, the Executive Director, was dismissed soon after several CHC staff members departed the organization. Usyk’s tenure was brief, having only been employed for a month before her termination. A Democratic strategist, familiar with the circumstances, shared with The Hill that “this debacle unfolding at the CHC doesn’t bode well for the Caucus and for Congresswoman Barragán”.
As the first Mexican-born American Congresswoman, I thought the Hispanic Caucus would be open in working together. This denial once again proves a bias towards conservative Latinas that don’t fit their narrative or ideology. https://t.co/oqYjrGDJaU pic.twitter.com/ugqkKMk5sb
— Mayra Flores Vallejo (@MayraFloresTX34) October 26, 2022
According to CBS News, Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán’s time in office has been characterized by a remarkably high rate of staff turnover in her personal office. This has led some members of the CHC to contemplate replacing her as the leader. A CHC member stated, “At this point, George Santos has more people working for him than Nanette”.
In October, Townhall obtained exclusive information that then-Rep. Mayra Flores (R-TX) was prevented from becoming a member of the CHC. Flores, the first Mexican-born woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, informed Townhall that “this denial once again proves a bias towards conservative Latinas that don’t fit their narrative or ideology”.
The current state of the CHC is concerning for many, as it leaves the caucus without direction at a time when a Republican-led House is tackling important issues such as immigration and education. The lack of political staffers and the high rate of staff turnover in Barragán’s office are indicative of a larger problem within the CHC, and it is unclear what steps the organization will take to address these issues.
The CHC has long been a powerful political force in Washington, DC, and it is essential that its members work together to ensure that it continues to be a strong advocate for the Latino community. It is clear that the CHC needs to make some changes in order to remain an effective organization, and it is up to its members to make sure that these changes are made in a timely manner.
The preceding article is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Townhall
