The Obama Shake-Up Continues: Pleitez Runs for Congress

The reverberation of the Obama generation continues to shake up Latino politics. The newest embodiment of the political shake-up is the quiet, stately, determined, and uncannily smart Emanuel Pleitez. Pleitez is the 26-year-old financial professional, turned Obama activist, turned upstart candidate, that is making a major league play for the seat once held by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. Upfront warning: don't let his age fool you -- Pleitez is formidable and is soon to be powerful whatever happens during next Tuesday's election.

I interviewed Pleitez about his race yesterday. Pleitez and I spoke about his incredibly gutsy campaign, which has already made a huge difference in the 32nd district. I also asked Pleitez if he was expecting that one of California's leading pols would try to damage his reputation through a highly personal campaign attack piece (the mailer has backfired on the Cedillo campaign).

The role of Pleitez in the outcome of the race to replace Solis cannot be underestimated, and six days before the election his candidacy cannot be completely written off. In the interview Pleitez confidently told me that the election is a three-way race between him and the noted front-runners. The only people that flatly tell me that a Pleitez upset is completely inconceivable are those that laughed a couple months ago at the idea that Pleitez would be a huge factor.

The election this coming Tuesday, May 19th can bring a huge political career setback or a plum seat to one of the Golden State's biggest political names, it can bring a plum seat or a continued respectable career to another, but to Pleitez it brings either a position as the youngest member of the Democratic congressional caucus or a respected position at the leadership forum of the vanguard in Latino politics. While there is now increased speculation and bet-hedging on what Tuesday will bring Pleitez has proven that if you play it right you really can't lose.

Tomorrow I will post an interview with State Senator Gil Cedillo another contender for the 32nd congressional district seat.

Listen to the Interview with Pleitez Here:

To contribute to the upstart campaign of Emanuel Pleitez, please visit his website.

Mario Solis-Marich is a talk show host that can be heard over the air AM 760 in Denver , KTLK AM 1150 in Los Angeles and worldwide at www.GoToMario.com.

Comments

[solo13]

The Demo political machine in So Cal needs the shake-up Pleitez is causing with his grass-roots campaign. Both Chu and Cedillo are political opportunists wanting to leave the sinking ship that is the California State budget for what they believed was a political plum owed to them. What a disaster for the people of the 32nd District if either of these hacks wins.

I don't live in the 32nd but if I did I would have been out there knocking on doors with these young people to help the campaign. If you live in this district, do something good and fresh for the political life-blood of your community. Vote for this young man, Pleitez who has so much heart and good intentions for public service.

[vmac56]

I'm really excited to see how this race turns out next week. From everything I've seen, Emanuel certainly seems like the best person for the job. Go Pleitez!

[Yumay]

I knew Pleitez has what it takes the first time I saw hiS simple, well-designed flyer and what it had to say. I held off voting for a few days just to make sure because I wanted to do right by my former rep Hilda Solis. Sure enough Chu and Cedillo dug into the mud and went after each other, making my choice firm: IT'S TIME FOR NEW POLITICS. IT'S TIME FOR PLEITEZ, if not now, then in two years.

My vote is already in the mail! GO, 32nd, for PLEITEZ!

[reyguerra]

The only thing keeping Pleitez from winning is that people are just starting to hear about him and what he has to say...seem­s like he'll be around for a while...

[Veronica Roman]

As a lifetime resident of the 32nd I have never seen as desperate a move as Cedillo's mailer characterizing Pleitez as a "party animal". This from the man whom spent over five grand at The Standard, LA's premiere watering hole for the Downtown crowd frequented by the local corporate types with expense accounts. Then the mailer goes on to accuse the candidate of throwing gang signs, & sociallizing with "many women." We are not stupid...d­on't spit in my face and tell me it's raining. We don't buy it: on MArch 19 we will get the rep we deserve to continue Hilda's work & then some. He's got my vote. I will talk to my neighbors too and we will win the old a oil way: house by house one handshake at a time! Yes we can !

[Perry Green]

CA-32 needs new leadership and Emanuel is the person for the job!

[el bubba grande]

Emanuel is friend of mine. I am so proud to see how far he has come in the face of what seem like overwhelming obstacles (i.e. the Sacramento Establishment).

The fact that Cedillo has been reduced to plucking facebook photos of Emanuel and turning them into a hit piece just shows how low and dirty the political game is well, and why it is so important for Emanuel to win or at least make a strong showing to illustrate that the dream of a politics based on ideas and not on smears and wedge issues is still alive.

[izelmorena]

Mr. Pleitez’s grass roots method to getting to know the 32nd district is much more intimate, grassroots and progressive than any of the other congressional candidate I have seen. Mr. Cedillo sends me a pack of Forget-Me-Not seeds, and takes potshots at Mr. Pleitez. I am SO done with the old ways of politics (Thank you, President Obama & David Plouffe!). I am ready for change.

[yflor001]

Honesty is the cornerstone of all success and Emmanuel has that great quality for this seat. Good luck!!

[calpreeceus]

A good friend I met in Houston keyed me into Pleitez's campaign and made a believer out of me. He may surprise the pollsters with his campaign style. He has the right position on the issues facing California's 32nd. If you have a few honest, earnest dollars you want to see help a good political race, you could not do better today than donate to Pleitez's campaign. Wishing we had him in Texas.

[knittinginlj]

How thrilling it is to watch Pleitez move from underdog to contender in this interesting Congressional campaign. Looks like he's going to go all the way!

[mysticvision]

The Pleitez is the first in a wave of new leadership in the country that will be ushered in by the grassroots style of modern campaigning that Obama pioneered. Even if you're not remotely interested in the issues facing this congressional district, if you're a progressive, you should support him. This is the future of the movement! We're taking democracy back, baby.

[pedacito]

Emanuel is running a grassroots campaign that has exceeded everyone's expectations - nobody should underestimate him! Pleitez for Congress!

[AlcatrazMX]

Pleitez is the full package. Smart, honest, determined, and inspirational. The guy has a lot going for him at such a young age.

[Kristin Klein]

Pleitez is working on making history in California politics! He's the most honest candidate by far and truly cares about the people in this district. I support him 100%.

[Thinkprogressive]

I just read this because it was posted on my facebook homepage by you, and I've been following him for a bit and am really a big fan!!

-Andrew Januik