Top Heck Aide Attacks Catherine Cortez Masto’s Mexican Heritage
For Immediate Release: Sept. 23, 2016
Top Heck Aide Attacks Catherine Cortez Masto’s Mexican Heritage
Joe Heck remains silent
Washington, DC --- Yesterday a former top aide to Joe Heck tweeted disparaging remarks attacking Catherine Cortez Masto’s Mexican heritage. Now, over 24 hours later, Joe Heck is yet to respond.
Tom McAllister, a former political director on Heck’s Senate campaign, tweeted “Catherine is about as Mexican as I am. It's relevant when applying for scholarships [sic]...or running for #nvsen”
Statement from Jakki Durón, Nevadan and Planned Parenthood Votes Volunteer:
“As a member of the Latinx community, I find these remarks deeply offensive. No one can measure the level of your Latino identity or decide when your identity is or is not relevant. Catherine Cortez Masto is Mexican American, with Mexican immigrant grandparents. I am Central American with Salvadoran and Honduran immigrant parents. We have different backgrounds, but that does not make either of us more or less Latino. Our heritage is central to our identity, our lived experiences, and how we are perceived by the world. It is always relevant. As a Latinx Nevadan, I am proud to have a Latina running for Senate, and to play a part in electing her to be our first Latina Senator.”