The BOLD PAC, the political and fundraising arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, endorsed former secretary of state Hillary Clinton for president on Monday.

An Expected Endorsement?

From Washington, D.C., BOLD PAC Chair Tony Cardenas, representative for California's 29th Congressional District, joined CHC Chair Linda Sanchez, representative for California's 38th Congressional District to endorse Clinton. The representatives said they believe she is the presidential candidate that will support issues that affect the Latino community.

In a statement released on early Monday afternoon regarding the endorsement, Cardenas said Clinton has been a champion for the Latino community, tackling issues affecting Latinos that are also American issues, such as affordable college, job creation and more opportunities.

"Although we respect Senator Bernie Sanders, he has failed to stand with our community time and time again on issues that mattered most to us, voting against Hillary and Ted Kennedy's 2007 comprehensive immigration bill six times -- effectively killing our ability to make immigration reform a reality" said Cardenas.

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said, "Hillary Clinton has been a consistent advocate for comprehensive immigration reform and someone the Latino community has always been able to count on. She's a progressive who gets things done, while staying true to who she is. Latinos can count on Hillary Clinton -- that's why I'm with her."

Clinton, however, had already received the individual support from a number of CHC members, including Cardenas and Sanchez.

Last November, Cardenas announced his endorsement following discussions with the former New York senator.

"I've met with Secretary Clinton and discussed the priorities we both have, and that is how I know she is the most experienced candidate for president, with the best plan to revitalize our economy and keep our nation on top," Cardenas said, adding that Clinton shares his "primary focus" to help the 11 million undocumented immigrants who want to provide for their families and contribute to the country.

One month later, in December, Sanchez announced her endorsement in an op-ed for the Spanish language newspaper La Opinion.

Based on an English translation sent to Latin Post, Sanchez said the next U.S. president has to keep fighting for families seeking a better life, especially during economic or labor setbacks.

She wrote, "I believe with all my heart that president should and will be Hillary Clinton."

"Hillary has been a champion for working families her entire career. She has fought tirelessly for comprehensive immigration reform that would keep so many of those families together, and give their children the best possible shot at reaching their full potential," Sanchez added, also saying that Clinton has been "a passionate ally of the Latino community" on issues ranging from the economy to healthcare and education.

Sanchez's endorsement came just days after fellow CHC member Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., endorsed Clinton at an immigration conference in Brooklyn on Dec. 14, along with an op-ed for Univision.

Sanders' Support Within CHC

The CHC BOLD PAC's endorsement does not necessarily signify that all CHC members support Clinton. On Oct. 9, Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., congressman for Arizona's 3rd Congressional District, formally endorsed Sanders at a rally at Reid Park DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center in Tucson. Grijalva's support was Sanders' first congressional endorsement.

"Bernie is my friend and beyond friendship I agree with his values. I agree with the solutions that he is bringing to the American people,'' said Grijalva, who also serves as co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), which was created by Sanders in 1991.

The CPC also includes several other CHC members, such as Gutierrez and Democratic California Reps. Grace Napolitano, Lucille Roybal-Allard and Xavier Becerra and New York Reps. Jose Serrano and Nydia Velazquez.

The BOLD PAC endorsement comes a day before Super Tuesday, when 12 states will host either Democratic primaries or caucuses. Among the Super Tuesday states is Texas, home to a large Latino population and 222 delegates up for grabs, not counting superdelegates. According to the Texas Democratic Party, 29 super delegates are allocated for the Lone Star state, which brings its total to 251, the most of any Super Tuesday state.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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