Chuck Rocha
Chuck Rocha | |
|---|---|
 Rocha in 2012 | |
| Born | 1969 (age 55–56)[1] Tyler, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ebony Payne[2] |
Chuck Rocha is an American political consultant born and raised in Tyler, Texas. He is Mexican American, a Democratic Party strategist, and former union organizer who is the president of Solidarity Strategies. In April 2020, the former Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign advisor founded the partisan super PAC Nuestro PAC to turn out Latinos in the 2020 general election.
Career
[edit]Chuck began his political career in East Texas at United Rubber Workers Local 746. By 22, he had become the youngest officer of the 1,200 person local. At 29, he was hired to be the youngest and first person of color political director of the United Steelworkers. He is credited for building out one of the top national labor political departments in the country.[3][4]
In 2010, Rocha left the USW to create Solidarity Strategies, a full-service nonprofit and political consulting firm. Solidarity was built on the idea of diversity, inclusion and mentorship opportunities for the next generation of minority professionals. In 10 years, Solidarity has employed over 60 young people of color and has become one of the most successful minority-owned political consulting firms in the nation.[5][6]
On July 30, 2013, Rocha pleaded guilty to the embezzlement of union funds. He was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to pay a fine of $2,000.[7]
Chuck has worked on several presidential, congressional and gubernatorial races, including both of Bernie Sanders' presidential campaigns.[8][9][10][11]
Personal life
[edit]Rocha grew up in East Texas.[12] Rocha is Mexican American.[7] He was a single father at twenty and is proud grandparent.[1] In August 2024 he married Ebony Payne.[2]
Further reading
[edit]- Rocha, Chuck (August 19, 2020). Tío Bernie: The Inside Story of How Bernie Sanders Brought Latinos Into the Political Revolution. Strong Arm Press. ISBN 9781947492523.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Chuck Rocha: Latinx voters". Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. October 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Rocha, Chuck (August 10, 2024). "Today I get to marry my best friend Ebony Payne!". X.
- ^ "Chuck Rocha – Netroots Nation". Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ^ "Report: Democratic Consultant Spending Falls Short On Diversity". NBC News. June 25, 2014.
- ^ McPhate, Mike (November 15, 2016). "California Today: Latino Power Rising". The New York Times.
- ^ Henney, Megan (November 21, 2019). "Democratic candidates tackle paid family leave during fifth debate". FOXBusiness.
- ^ a b Mahoney, Brian (February 2016). "Sanders adviser was convicted of union embezzling". POLITICO. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ^ Narea, Nicole (September 9, 2020). ""The Latino vote is not being taken seriously": Ex-Bernie Sanders adviser sounds an alarm". Vox. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ^ "Opinion | How to Win the Latino Vote". The New York Times. September 11, 2020. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ^ "A new group will push campaigns to hire more diverse political consultants". NBC News. July 18, 2017.
- ^ "New National Association to Focus On Connecting Minority-Owned Firms". campaignsandelections.com. July 20, 2017.
- ^ "Chuck Rocha reveals secrets to winning Latino voters in 'Tío Bernie' Sanders book". NBC News. August 20, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
The book, too, is Rocha's personal story of how a "red neck farm boy from East Texas" who largely grew up without his father went from a goal in his 20s of landing a job that would provide health care for his son to becoming a union activist to having a felony in his record over what he describes as a $485 expense account mistake.