Rep. Mayra Flores (R-TX) has been refused admission by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC).
Those familiar with the situation told Townhall Flores requested to join the caucus earlier this month and was rejected.
The outlet noted Flores is the first Mexican-born woman elected to Congress and represents a district that is overwhelmingly Latino.
“As the first Mexican-born Congresswoman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, I thought joining the Congressional Hispanic Caucus would be a constructive way to build bridges and work in a bipartisan manner on behalf of our constituents,” Flores told Townhall.
She added, “I was wrong. This denial once again proves a bias towards conservative Latinas that don’t fit their narrative or ideology.”
As the first Mexican-born American Congresswoman, I thought the Hispanic Caucus would be open in working together. This denial once again proves a bias towards conservative Latinas that don’t fit their narrative or ideology. https://t.co/oqYjrGDJaU pic.twitter.com/ugqkKMk5sb
— Mayra Flores Vallejo (@MayraFloresTX34) October 26, 2022
Flores also joked, “Maybe I’m not the right type of taco.”
My thoughts after the rejection by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, maybe I'm not the right type of taco.
— Mayra Flores Vallejo (@MayraFloresTX34) October 27, 2022
A spokesman for the caucus defended the decision in a statement to Fox News.
“Per our bylaws, the CHC is now for Democratic Members,” the spokesman said.
The statement continues, “Rep. Flores’ extreme MAGA values and their attacks on Latinos and our nation’s democracy on January 6 do not align with CHC values.”
According to the caucus’ website, it serves to address “national and international issues and crafts policies that impact the Hispanic community.”
It also serves “as a forum for the Hispanic Members of Congress to coalesce around a collective legislative agenda. The Caucus is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”
Flores’ comments come more than a year after a Black freshman Republican from Florida was blocked from being a part of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Rep. Byron Donalds told NBC News the caucus has a “stated commitment to ensuring Black Americans have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. As a newly elected Black Member of Congress, my political party should not exempt me from a seat at the table dedicated to achieving this goal.”