The Democratic National Committee tweeted “felicidades” (congratulations) to Texas Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones on May 22, saying, “The future is female. And Latina too!” The group deleted the tweet a short time later after realizing that Ortiz is not Latina at all, but a Filipino American.
My favorite thing about @TheDemocrats is when they congratulated Gina Ortiz last night.
Once they realized she is not a Latina they deleted this gem.
Felicidades! pic.twitter.com/FwWDUrHh2Y
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) May 23, 2018
Ortiz Jones, 37, defeated Rick Trevino to win the Democratic nomination for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District. She will face incumbent Will Hurd (R-Texas) in November.
The DNC later corrected its mistake, posting a second congratulatory tweet.
The future is female! Congratulations @ginaortizjones and @texasdemocrats. Onward to November! pic.twitter.com/QceKIm7VQp
— The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) May 23, 2018
Ortiz Jones will face an uphill battle going into November’s general election, because the district definitely leans Republican — but if she wins, she will be the first lesbian, the first Filipino-American, and the first Iraq War veteran to represent the state of Texas in Congress.