Latino

Schumer names Hispanic media director

by Rafael Bernal - 01/04/17 9:00 AM ET

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday named a Hispanic media director as Senate Democrats respond to allegations that its staff lacks diversity.

Schumer announced the hiring of Pili Tobar, a House and Democratic National Committee veteran who most recently led communications for the Latino Victory Project (LVP).

{mosads}“We’re excited to have Pili joined the team. Her skills and expertise in Hispanic media will serve Sen. Schumer and the caucus well,” Schumer spokesman Matt House wrote in an email.

Activists have questioned the diversity of Senate Democrats’ staffs, saying that even though theirs was the most diverse caucus in history, it was not reflected in senior staff members.

“We all need to do a better job making the Senate a diverse place, and that’s a responsibility I take seriously,” said Schumer in a statement last month.

Tobar previously ran communications for Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). As director of communications and advocacy at LVP, Tobar campaigned for the group’s endorsed candidates, including Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), who was sworn in as the first Latina senator Tuesday.

Tobar, a first-generation Guatemalan-American, was born in Florida and raised in Guatemala City.

Tags Chuck Schumer