SAN FRANCISCO — A trio of Democratic presidential candidates dropped into the California Democratic Party Chicano Latino Caucus’ meeting late Friday in San Francisco, Calif., during the party’s annual organizing convention.
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke — the only White House hopeful to include his appearance on his public events schedule — each used the microphone to tout their immigration policies, signaling the importance of the Hispanic vote ahead of California’s crucial primary election on Super Tuesday next year.
Sanders, who won the caucus’ endorsement in 2016, was rushed by supporters as he entered the room in the George R. Moscone Convention Center and greeted to chants of “Bernie, Bernie, Bernie!”
“Last time around, with your help, we won 46% of the vote. This time we’re going to win California,” the self-described socialist said. “I don’t have to explain to anyone in this room that the future of our country depends upon defeating a racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic president who is also a pathological liar. We’re going to defeat Trump because we are going to bring people together.”
Sanders, on the heels of a Thursday town hall in Las Vegas, during which he highlighted his immigration platform, told the crowd that “together we are going to end the demonization of the immigrant community.”
“And we are going to pass comprehensive immigration reform and a path toward citizenship,” he said during his short five-minute address.
Klobuchar made a similar vow during her remarks, joking about how she had lost her voice this week during her own Nevada swing and staying afterward to take photos with fans.
“Immigration reform, this is how I see it: I see this as an economic imperative for our country. I don’t see this about walls, I don’t see this about negating the divide that this president creates every day,” she said. “I want to be here with all of you to say we must pass comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship because immigrants don’t diminish America, they are America.”
O’Rourke, who this week became the second presidential contender after Obama-era housing secretary Julián Castro to release a detailed immigration plan, told the audience, many of whom were squealing women, that his proposal would assist the country in meeting “its full potential” and fulfill “its promise.”
“On day one of our administration we would ensure that not another child is put in another cage, not another mother is sent back to the very country from which she fled, not another Dreamer ever has to fear deportation because they are made U.S. citizens,” he said, adding his push for foreign aid to Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador to stem the flow of illegal immigration.
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, and and Rep. Eric Swalwell of California will additionally speak at the California Democratic Party’s 2019 Organizing Convention, one of two conventions taking place in the state this year. They will be joined by Castro, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and ex-Rep. John Delaney of Maryland.
