Hispanic Caucus picks Castro as its next chair

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) picked Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) as its new chairman Friday, replacing New Mexico Gov.-elect Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D).

“After two years of the Administration’s unrelenting attacks against the Latino community, I’m humbled to be elected Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and be granted the opportunity to uphold our nation’s values,” Castro told CHC members in his acceptance speech.

The CHC will have a record 39 members as of January, up from 31 in this Congress.

{mosads}”As a Caucus, we plan to work on creating opportunities for all Americans by removing barriers to education, raising minimum wages, increasing diversity across all sectors, lowering the cost of health care, and pushing back against climate change,” added Castro.

The leadership slate was approved unanimously by CHC members.

Castro was the group’s first vice chair under Lujan Grisham. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) will take over that slot after serving as second vice chair.

CHC elections traditionally move leadership members up one slot, adding a new member to the slate to take over the No. 4 whip slot.

“Having a slate means as people are moving they get experience, get to know the members, they have a sense about what their style leadership priorities are going to be,” Lujan Grisham told The Hill.

The incoming slate will include two members new to CHC leadership, as outgoing Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), the caucus’s whip, chose to run for House Democratic Caucus vice chair instead, a position he lost to Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.).

“While we’ve had a whip position, our ability to lead and maneuver, particularly in the minority, has never been as effective as it was with Pete at the helm,” said Lujan Grisham.

Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) will serve as the group’s second vice chair, and Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) will take over as whip.