LULAC & NewsMax TV Host Presidential Town Hall in Iowa

DES MOINES, IOWA - Today, The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National and Newsmax TV are holding a town hall with Democratic presidential candidates and more than 500 eligible and registered Latino voters in Des Moines, focused on the issues of importance to the Hispanic electorate in Iowa. The event comes after a successful advocacy campaign led by LULAC to overturn an unjust Voter ID Law in Iowa, which aimed to blatantly suppress the minority vote.

Presidential candidates in attendance include Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Former U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke (D-TX), Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) via pre-recorded video. The following are statements from LULAC’s National and Iowa Leadership:

“Today’s Town Hall is a unique opportunity for candidates to address and connect with Iowa’s Latino voters, a key constituency group that will have a big seat at the table at the Iowa Caucuses,” Domingo Garcia, LULAC National President said. “Our team has mobilized the Latino community in Iowa and we’re on track towards our mission to register an additional 25,000 Latino voters. When LULAC hits this number, Latinos could represent one out of every four Caucus goers. The Democratic presidential candidates here tonight understand that and that’s why they are here.”

“LULAC’s efforts have re-energized and empowered Latinos in Iowa, and we are ready to head to the caucuses in unprecedented numbers in 2020,” Sindy Benavides, LULAC CEO said. “The candidates tonight all addressed questions directly from Latino voters here. It will be up to them to determine who answered their questions best, but the fact that they showed up is going to give all of these candidates a huge advantage with our community come Caucus time.”

“The presidential candidates tonight came ready to listen and discuss solutions for the challenges facing our community in Iowa,” Nick Salazar, LULAC Iowa State Director said. “The candidates who attended the Town Hall understand that LULAC’s fieldwork has seen unparalleled momentum ahead of 2020 across Iowa, despite the ongoing attempts to pass legislation at the state level to disenfranchise our community. We are ready to support candidates that support us.”

“This year alone, we have fought against numerous attempts at voting rights suppression in Iowa, Texas, Kansas, and Florida,” Joe Enriquez Henry, President of Iowa LULAC Council 307 said. “These active attacks against minorities, especially Latino communities, will not go unchecked. That’s why in Iowa, LULAC will continue the legal fight against unjust legislation, as well as our ongoing education campaign to inform the Latino community in Iowa of their right to vote.”

About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with over 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org