A GOP lawmaker called RNC chair Ronna Romney McDaniel‘s absence “a complete wasted opportunity.” | Susan Walsh/AP Photo RNC chair, Labor secretary cancel on Latino conference

The Republican National Committee chair and the secretary of labor both abruptly canceled appearances in front of the country’s largest nonpartisan Latino political organization.

The National Association of Latino Elected Officials’ annual conference begins Thursday in Phoenix. Late Wednesday afternoon, organizers received word from the RNC that Ronna Romney McDaniel would not be attending to deliver a speech, scheduled for Friday afternoon in front of all the members.


McDaniel’s office provided no explanation for the cancellation, other than to express “regrets,” according to Arturo Vargas, NALEO’s executive director. He said the move was particularly troubling coming in the midst of the crisis over separating immigrant children from their families.

“Getting this last-minute cancellation is deeply disappointing especially at a moment when the folks are gathering here are trying to understand what the direction of the country is,” Vargas said, adding that the invitation had been extended in November and confirmed in recent weeks.

An RNC official attributed the decision to “an unexpected scheduling conflict,” adding, “she also canceled other events in the state that day.” The official noted that the RNC remains a sponsor of the event, for the second year in a row, and staff and volunteers will still attend and man a booth on site.

Florida state Sen. René García, a Republican board member from NALEO, called McDaniel’s absence “a complete wasted opportunity.”

“It’s easy to give up and give in, and I think it’s important for us to court the Latino community. It’s disappointing to see the lack of action on our party, giving up the Hispanic voters to the Democrats,” García said. “This is why it happens. You fail to show up when it counts.”

Vargas, who’s been the executive director since 1994, said he couldn’t remember a situation like this. The group, which is made up of local elected officials from across the political spectrum — the incoming board it’s about to welcome is made up of 25 Democrats and 10 Republicans — aims to hear from leaders of both major parties at every conference.

Last year, Neither McDaniel nor Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez could attend, but both sent video greetings. This year, Perez won’t attend, but DNC vice chair Maria Elena Durazo will speak in his place.

“This organization is one of the few that brings together Republicans and Democrats to try to find common ground and understand each other’s perspective, and the leadership of the Republican Party is choosing not to have that kind of dialogue,” Vargas said. “You can’t have a dialogue if people don’t want to participate.”

Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, the highest-ranking Latino in the Trump administration, addressed NALEO’s conference last year. Vargas said his office informed the group on Tuesday that he wouldn’t be attending, citing his need to remain in Washington for a policy rollout. Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney is expected to propose merging the Education and Labor departments as soon as Thursday, but Acosta’s spokesman did not respond when asked for the reason for Acosta’s last-minute cancellation.