DNC Hispanic media director shifts role to Biden presidential campaign

President Biden has chosen María Carolina Casado, also known as "Maca," to lead the Hispanic media strategy for his upcoming 2024 presidential campaign. As President Biden seeks re-election, this strategic appointment underlines his desire to reach out to the Hispanic community.

Casado expressed her excitement at the opportunity, acknowledged and  the importance of this role, which extends to shaping the media strategy for Vice President Kamala Harris as well.

The Hispanic vote is of paramount importance in the upcoming election for both parties, and Casado stressed the campaign's dedication to ensuring the Hispanic community is well-informed about the president and vice president's accomplishments.

She emphasized taking a campaign's proactive approach, with early and substantial investments to engage Latino communities across the nation.

For the past two years, Casado served as the Director of Hispanic Media and Spokesperson at the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Her role played a pivotal part in the Democratic Party's strategy for the 2022 midterm elections, which saw the Democrats maintain their Senate majority and lose fewer House seats than initially predicted.

Within the DNC, Casado spearheaded a substantial operation with a seven-figure budget, primarily focused on creating bilingual advertisements targeting Latino voters.

Casado's journey from her birthplace in Cumaná, Venezuela, to the heart of U.S. politics is noteworthy. She arrived in the United States in 2014 and quickly immersed herself in the political arena. Her dedication led her to work as a Hispanic press intern for "Hillary for America" during the 2016 presidential elections.

In the subsequent 2020 presidential elections, Casado held the position of Regional Press Secretary for South Florida in Biden's campaign, culminating in Biden's victory over then-President Donald Trump.

Casado's extensive political involvement includes collaborations with various members of Congress, including Democratic legislator Donna Shalala, who represented Florida's 27th district in the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021.

To take on her new role, Casado has relocated with her family, including her husband and four-year-old son, from Miami to Wilmington, Delaware, home to Biden's campaign headquarters.

Casado highlighted the Biden administration's achievements, such as record-low Latino unemployment rates, a decade-high pace of small business openings, and increased access to healthcare for many within the community.

Casado's appointment aligns with a broader trend within Biden's campaign, with several Latinos holding key positions. Julie Chávez Rodríguez, the granddaughter of civil rights and labor activist César Chávez, leads the campaign's re-election efforts. Kevin Muñoz, who spearheaded communication strategies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic during his tenure at the White House, serves as the campaign's spokesperson.

Furthermore, to succeed Casado as the Director of Hispanic Media at the DNC, the party has enlisted Marco Frieri, a Colombian-American hailing from South Florida.