Hispanic congresswoman rejected by Hispanic caucus for being Republican

Congresswoman Mayra Flores (R-TX) was denied membership in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) for being a Republican, Town Hall reported Wednesday. 

Flores, who in June won an unprecedented Latino vote in Texas’ historically Democratic 34^th District, is the first Mexican-American congresswoman in history. 

Nevertheless, Flores remains persona non grata at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which she attempted to join in the hopes of bridging the divide between the parties. The CHC is exclusively made up of Democrats after Republicans split to form their own Congressional Hispanic Conference in 2003. 

“As the first Mexican-born American Congresswoman, I thought the Hispanic Caucus would be open in working together,” the Republican wrote on Twitter in response to the rejection. “This denial once again proves a bias toward conservative Latinas that don’t fit their narrative or ideology.” 

But the members of the CHC showed no openness towards “working together”. 

"Rep. Flores’ Extreme MAGA values and their attacks on Latinos and our nation’s democracy on January 6 do not align with CHC values," CHC Spokesman Sebastian Roa told the Texas Tribune. 

It is unclear how Flores has attacked Latinos. During her campaign, Flores’ opponent Rep. Vincente Gonzales (D-TX) paid a blogger to attack her. The blogger published racist vitriol against Flores, calling her “Miss Frijoles” and “Miss Enchiladas” and referring to her as a “cotton-pickin’ liar”. 

In the CHC’s stated mission, which is “dedicated to voicing and advancing . . . issues affecting Hispanics,” there is no mention of Democrats or Republicans. 

“The CHC addresses national and international issues and crafts policies that impact the Hispanic community,” states the CHC on its website. “The function of the Caucus is to serve as a forum for the Hispanic Members of Congress to coalesce around a collective legislative agenda. The Caucus is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.” 

In June, Black Republican freshman congressman Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) was similarly rejected by the Congressional Black Caucus. 

Last week, it was reported that the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is backing a White candidate over his opponent, a Black woman.  

According to the Daily Caller, campaign filings show the CBC donated $5,000 to congressional candidate Frank Mrvan, a White Democrat currently campaigning for Indiana’s First Congressional District. Mrvan is running against Jennifer-Ruth Green, a Black woman who has yet to receive an endorsement or contribution from the Congressional Black Caucus.