If Jessica Cisneros wins the upcoming Texas primary, she’d replace AOC as the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.
When Jessica Cisneros was a 20-year-old student with a passion for politics, she interned for Congressman Henry Cuellar, a popular Democrat from Texas. Cuellar shared Cisneros’ heritage and hometown , and were both outstanding students whose graduate degrees took them away from home. But that’s where their similarities ended.
Today, Cisneros is doing just that. After being recruited by progressive political action committee Justice Democrats, she quit her job as an immigration lawyer, moved back to Texas, and began criss-crossing the state calling Cuellar “Trump’s favorite Democrat.” She points out that since Trump’s election, Cuellar has voted in favor of the President’s policies 67% of the time, according to independent outlet.
It’s clear that progressives are not shoe-ins there. Certainly, there’s something of a generational divide, but cultural influences from the Catholic church and established economic forces like the banking industry play influential roles. Laredo, founded in 1755, is one of Texas’ oldest cities and is geographically more isolated than other border cities like McAllen and Brownsville.
The 28th district centered in Laredo appears to be a testing ground for what’s possible as demographic changes, especially in suburban areas, turn Texan cities increasingly purple. The district itself features a section of the border with Mexico, including 200 miles of border, and stretches more than 150 miles to the north into the suburbs of San Antonio.
There has also been an El Paso effect that has galvanized other young Latinx politicians like Cisneros. Cristina Tzintzún is the founder and executive director of activist Hispanic group the Jolt Initiative, and just announced she’s running against long-time Republican incumbent Senator John Cornyn. Motivated by the targeting of Mexican Americans by a shooter in El Paso who killed 22 on August 3, Tzintzún is the first Latina to run in a Democratic field of four credible contenders.
Sergio Mora, a former Webb County Democratic Party chair in Laredo, said that the contest was slow to heat up, but recently, Cisneros got a huge jolt of energy via a surprise endorsement from Elizabeth Warren. “This is huge for Jessica,” Mora said. “It definitely pricked people’s ears up. Elizabeth pulling her on stage was a huge deal.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Time's Up Launches Latinx House Initiative Led By America Ferrera, Gina RodriguezA partnership between Time's Up and Justice for Migrant Women to amplify Latinx voices in and outside of Hollywood, Latinx House's committee includes Ferrera, Rodriguez, Eva Longoria, Diane Guerrero and Karla Souza.
Read more »
12 Gorgeous Tattoos That Perfectly Capture The Beauty Of Latinx Heritage12 gorgeous tattoos that perfectly capture the beauty of Latinx heritage.
Read more »
19 Latinx Movies To Watch On NetflixConsider your next Netflix-and-chill sesh completely covered.
Read more »
Time's Up Launches Latinx House Initiative Led By America Ferrera, Gina RodriguezA partnership between Time's Up and Justice for Migrant Women to amplify Latinx voices in and outside of Hollywood, Latinx House's committee includes Ferrera, Rodriguez, Eva Longoria, Diane Guerrero and Karla Souza.
Read more »
12 Gorgeous Tattoos That Perfectly Capture The Beauty Of Latinx Heritage12 gorgeous tattoos that perfectly capture the beauty of Latinx heritage.
Read more »
How Marie Newman Plans to Unseat an 8-Term Illinois Congressman'My daughter, Evie transitioned four and a half years ago, and I couldn't help but think Trump's election just might put us back 20 years in terms of people's rights. I had to do something.' - marie4congress WhyIRan
Read more »