top of page
Search

Democratic Party leader & native of Puerto Rico seeks to get out the Boricua vote for Harris

Writer's picture: The San Juan Daily StarThe San Juan Daily Star


Natascha Otero-Santiago

By The Star Staff


Natascha Otero-Santiago, the Democratic Party vice chair of Hispanic Outreach, says the Puerto Rican vote is particularly important this election year with 4.8 million Puerto Ricans of voting age living in the 50 states, and 800,000 in Florida alone.


That’s why her efforts have been aimed at mobilizing her completely grassroots organization to get out the vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz this Nov. 5.


Otero-Santiago visited her home island last week to promote her “Boricua Calling Boricua” telephone campaign.


“The message they’re sending is that their vote counts,” she said.


And it’s not only the national elections that Boricuas are called on to educate their fellow Puerto Ricans about, said Otero-Santiago, 58, but also down ballot issues like county councils and school boards.


As founder of Boricuas for Biden four years ago and Boricuas for Kamala last month, Otero-Santiago has led efforts to raise the profile of Puerto Rican voters in Orlando, Florida and Pennsylvania, where she led educational events and caravans.


The other message that Otero-Santiago is calling on Boricuas to share is the dangers of reelecting Donald Trump.


“We fear we are in danger of losing our democracy either from Project 2025 (the radical remake of government promoted by the Heritage Foundation) or any other means,” she said. “We need to make sure that Kamala and Tim Walz are elected in order to protect us from that.”


Otero-Santiago said she returns to Puerto Rico often to educate her fellow islanders about the goings on in Washington.


“I am one of those people who left but come back frequently,” she said.


A public relations expert by profession, Otero-Santiago has lived all of her professional life in the mainland United States.


“There’s a lot that I wish Puerto Ricans knew about Washington whether they’re for statehood or independence or commonwealth,” she said.


Otero-Santiago said another difference Puerto Ricans can make is to contribute their energy to the Democratic campaign.


“Puerto Ricans are very passionate and committed,” she said.

190 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page