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The letter, signed by 32 members of Congress, including Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas, congratulated Biden on choosing Alejandro Mayorkas, the first Latino and the first immigrant to be appointed as secretary of the Homeland Security, calling it a “good start” for Latino representation.
But the letter notes that the Latin American population is incredibly diverse, pointing to a statistic that indicates that Mexican Americans make up over 60% of the Latin American population, and suggests that Lujan Grisham, of Mexican-American descent, either considered for the crucial Cabinet. role.
Shortly after the Democratic presidential primary ended and it became clear that Biden would be the candidate, he faced pressure from activists to choose a Latina as vice president. Lujan Grisham, the first Latin American Democratic governor in the United States, was one of two likely candidates who were considered before Biden chose Senator Kamala of California, who is the first American woman, the first black and the first Vice President-elect of South Asia.
Lujan Grisham deviated when asked Tuesday by CNN’s Don Lemon on “CNN Tonight” if she was approved for the job.
“While I am incredibly honored and flattered that my colleagues can see the work I do in the field and know that I have 40 years of complete healthcare experience, I strive to save lives. in New Mexico, ”she said.
Lujan Grisham will step into the role of Cabinet, which oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and plays a major role in the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, armed with his experience. Before becoming governor in 2019, she served as New Mexico’s secretary of health from 2003 to 2007. She was in the spotlight in the early months of the pandemic for her handling of the Covid-19 crisis in New Mexico. -Mexico, and was among the first governors to issue a stay-at-home order and close schools statewide as the epidemic spreads across the country.
Lujan Grisham also has a shared experience with the President-elect. Her sister died of brain cancer, the same disease that claimed the life of Biden’s son Beau. When she was elected to represent New Mexico’s first congressional district from 2013 to 2018, Lujan Grisham said in an interview that her sister’s death propelled her mission to fight for affordable health care.
The Biden-Harris transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This story was updated with comments from Lujan Grisham on CNN.
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