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Yesli Vega is being called out by fellow Republican co-chair of “Latinos for Youngkin” for misrepresenting her appointment to a Trump commission, according to new reporting by Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Vega campaigned in the VA-07 Republican primary on her appointment to the now-defunct “President’s Advisory Commission for Hispanic Prosperity.” But according to Daniel Cortez – who served on the commission and also served as co-chair of “Latinos for Youngkin” – Vega “never formally joined the panel or attended its meetings.”
The chairman of the commission, former New Mexico Lt. Gov. John Sanchez, a Republican, also disputed Vega’s participation on the commission, saying: “I was never present at any time when [Vega] was either sworn in or attended.”
“Even Republicans know Yesli Vega can’t be trusted and will do or say anything to get elected,” said DCCC spokesperson Monica Robinson. “Not even Vega’s pathetic inflation of her resume will be enough to convince Virginians to send her to Congress.”
Richmond Times-Dispatch: Co-Chair of ‘Latinos for Youngkin’ challenges Vega on Trump appointment
By Michael Martz
October 31, 2022
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Daniel Cortez served as co-chair of “Latinos for Youngkin” last year with Prince William Supervisor Yesli Vega, but the independent Stafford County resident isn’t supporting her bid for Congress because he said she has misrepresented her membership on a commission then-President Donald Trump appointed to advance Hispanic interests.
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Cortez served on the now-defunct President’s Advisory Commission for Hispanic Prosperity, but he said Vega never formally joined the panel or attended its meetings after Trump announced his intention to nominate her on Dec. 3, 2020, exactly a month after the election that cost him presidency.
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Vega advertised her membership on the panel during a six-way battle for the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, in the newly drawn 7th Congressional District and then deleted it after winning the primary. Trump publicly endorsed her campaign last week.
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“For me, it has to be an integrity issue,” said Cortez, who publicly supported state Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, during the campaign for the GOP nomination.
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A Vega campaign spokesman disputed Cortez’s allegation, insisting that she was a member of the commission and attended multiple meetings by ZOOM after her appointment.
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But the chairman of the commission, former New Mexico Lt. Gov. John Sanchez, a Republican, said last week: “I was never present at any time when [Vega] was either sworn in or attended.”
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In addition to his disagreement with Vega over her membership on the commission, he also faulted her for declining to participate in a debate planned by the newspaper and other community organizations in September at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, in the center of the new district.
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The Spanberger campaign released a statement by Cortez, which he confirmed on Monday, that said, “I remain greatly disappointed in Vega’s failure to debate before the Fredericksburg community, respond to the media – period, and even return my simple communication to put to rest the commission issue.”
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“I remain appreciative of Abigail Spanberger’s courtesy, demonstrated bipartisan experience, outreach and transparency,” he added.
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