Hillary Clinton Set to Add First Latina Chief of Staff to her Campaign Team

The Latin Post reports that presumed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is set to name Amanda Renteria, who is the first Latina chief of staff for a congressional lawmaker, to her campaign team as national political director.

Renteria is chief of staff for U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

Renteria, a Harvard and Stanford graduate, has had a history in election campaigns. She recently lost an election against Republican Rep. David Valadao for California’s 21st Congressional District, a district where approximately three in four residents are Latino.

Renteria declined to comment on the rumored position but has previously said, “I’m thinking a lot about what’s next.”

The move is likely to be viewed as an early attempt for Clinton to gain support among Latino voters, particularly in the face of a possible challenge by Republicans Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio. Both Republicans enjoy some support among the Latino community. Additionally, that segment of the voting population has been making it clear they may be in play and want to be courted.

“Anybody who understands a national presidential campaign understands that the Latino vote is up for grabs,” Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., told the Wall Street Journal. “And so if you’re going to disrespect us by thinking you can come in in the last two weeks and throw us a guacamole and tortilla chip party and say ‘Hola, amigo,’ and somehow we’re going to vote for you, it doesn’t happen that way these days.”