Three former members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) are launching a super PAC to expand Hispanic representation on Capitol Hill.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) and former Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) and Filemon Vela (D-Texas) will lead Bold America, focusing on increasing Hispanic representation and mobilizing Latino voters.
Lujan Grisham and Roybal-Allard are former chairwomen of the CHC; Roybal-Allard is also the daughter of former Rep. Edward Roybal (D-Calif.), the founding chairman of the group.
“As a former chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I know how important it is for elected leaders to reflect the communities they serve,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement.
“When one of us breaks through, we do not close the door behind us, we pave the way for countless others to follow.”
The group’s name evokes the CHC’s campaign arm, Bold PAC, suggesting the former members are looking to build on its success.
The CHC has grown aggressively over the past decade, especially after the 2016 election. CHC members have made it a mission to approach parity between representation and the Hispanic population, which now is about 20 percent of the U.S. population.
According to the Congressional Research Service, there are 62 Hispanics in Congress, including Democrats and Republicans — that’s about 11 percent of the total membership, including representatives, senators and nonvoting delegates.
But Bold America’s leaders say their goal goes beyond raw numbers.
“Empowering Hispanic voices in government is not just about representation; it’s about ensuring that our democracy reflects the rich diversity of our nation’s identity,” Roybal-Allard said.
That growth has at times led to friction between the CHC and the Democratic Party, with the side effect of building a network of seasoned campaign operatives in the CHC orbit.
Amy Strathdee, a former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) operative, and Dominic Gabello, Lujan Grisham’s former chief of staff, will serve as the Bold America’s strategic advisers.
Former Biden White House adviser Adrian Saenz will also advise the group, as will DCCC vets Lucinda Guinn and Dan Sena, who ran the DCCC in 2018 when Democrats retook control of the House.
Bold America’s initial marching orders are to emphasize Latino voter turnout and to protect CHC incumbents.
“Winning the majority is not just about gaining power; it’s about the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those in our community and to lead our nation towards a brighter future for all. And winning the majority for Democrats starts with retaining our current membership,” Vela said.