Outgoing Labor Secretary Tom Perez slammed Donald Trump Thursday for failing to nominate a single Latino for his incoming cabinet, saying it is a “slap in the face to our entire community.”
The son of Dominican immigrants, Mr. Perez is viewed as a front-runner in the race to become the the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
“After demonizing Latinos throughout his campaign, Trump broke precedent going back decades of having a Latino voice in the cabinet,” Mr. Perez said in a statement. “Trump’s refusal to invite a Latino voice to the table is unacceptable and a slap in the face to our entire community. I won’t stand for this and that is why I’ll be organizing with progressives across the country to fight back.”
Mr. Perez supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race and was thought to be among the possible contenders for attorney general had the Democrat won.
But now with Mr. Trump scheduled to be sworn in Friday as the 45th president of the United States, Mr. Perez is seeking to make a impression on the 447 members of the DNC that are set to choose a new leader at their spring meeting next month in Atlanta.
Mr. Perez said Mr. Trump “has embarrassed our country” with his cabinet picks - most of which are expected to be confirmed despite significant blowback from Senate Democrats. He also called Mr. Trump the “most unqualified and unpopular” president-elect in modern history.
The other candidates running to head the DNC are: Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota; New Hampshire Democratic Chairman Ray Buckley; South Carolina Democratic Chairman Jaime Harrison; Sally Boynton-Brown, executive director of the Idaho Democrats; Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind.; and former Fox News commentator Jehmu Greene.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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