Earlier this year, our partners at Texas Monthly opined that 2014 might just bethe year for Latina women in Texas politics. But this week, Texas lost it’s most politically powerful Latina – and chances are you may not have heard her name until now.
Grace Garcia died this week in North Texas, en route to a political event featuring Leticia Van de Putte and Wendy Davis. Garcia was Executive Director of Annie’s List, a group committed to electing Democratic women.
Though Garcia was unelected, her impact on national and regional politics will likely span generations. So says political strategist Harold Cook in a moving tribute.
Cook credits the Annie’s List leader and San Antonio native with nothing less than an essential role in the election of a U.S. President, the successful tenure of a U.S. Secretary of State, and the rise of a new wave of women in politics.
Listen to Cook’s commentary for the Texas Standard above, and check out Cook’s political blog, “Letters from Texas” for the full tribute.