California Sen. Kamala Harris earned an endorsement this summer from the Asian & Latino Coalition of Iowa, but her effort hasn’t stopped there to win support among minority voters in the state.

Harris’ Iowa campaign announced Tuesday its Latinx Steering Committee, “made up of Latinx leaders across the state who believe that Kamala Harris is the best person to take on Donald Trump and fight for Latinx Iowans and their families.”

The seven-member committee is led by Jazmin Newton-Butt, who also serves as Iowa LULAC deputy state director, LULAC Council 10 president in Davenport and is an Iowa ACLU board member.

Other members include: Brena Corona, former Latina Leadership Initiative board member from West Des Moines; Kyrstin Delagardelle, vice chair of the Des Moines School Board; Rosa Garduno, vice chair of the Asian & Latino Coalition; Mitch Henry, communications director for the Asian & Latino Coalition; Luis Navar, a business owner from Dension; Diana Olivas, a community activist from Des Moines; and Mark Rocha, a board member for the Asian & Latino Coalition.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have so many Iowa Latinx leaders joining my team today,” said Harris, in a statement to Starting Line. “We need a president in the White House who will unite, not divide us, and this team will ensure all Iowans know that they have a place in this campaign as we take on Donald Trump and fight for Latinx Iowans and their families.”

Harris first met with the Asian & Latino Coalition in October 2018 and has continued to prioritize minority outreach while campaigning here.

Deidre DeJear, who led minority outreach efforts in Iowa during President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, now serves as Harris’ Iowa Campaign Chair.

Harris participated in a LULAC event in Davenport to discuss issues facing women of color; her campaign hosted organizing events around Black Women Equal Pay Day; and she recently launched a Spanish “Camp Kamala” as a way to help campaign volunteers connect with Latinx voters by learning the language.

According to the campaign, members of the steering committee will utilize their personal networks to help the campaign engage “in innovative ways” with the Latinx community and assist in education efforts for first-time caucus-goers.

By Elizabeth Meyer

Posted 8/27/19