Arizona GOP congressional candidate Tanya Contreras Wheeless fired back at Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) after he made an accusation related to her being Latina.
Earlier this week, Wheeless responded to First Lady Jill Biden’s remark comparing Latinos to “breakfast tacos.”
“I am not a taco, but I am a proud, conservative Latina who looks forward to flipping [AZ04] in November!” Wheeless tweeted.
Gallego then responded, “Tanya is Latina, Cuando le conviene,” which translates to “when it suits her.”
Tanya is Latina, Cuando le conviene. https://t.co/FUGHEMNQFe
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) July 13, 2022
Wheeless fired back in a statement of her own, saying, “Many women change their last name when they get married, but that doesn’t change who they are or where they came from.”
She argued attacking her for using her married name “is sexist and racist.”
Wheeless continued, “These gross attacks have sadly become too frequent in our political discourse.”
Concluding her statement, Wheeless wrote, “This smear was likely intended to ruin my day. Mission failed. I am proud of my heritage and who I am – today and every day.”
She added, “I will use my name when and how I want. I am proud to be part Mexican, part Canadian and 100% American, and I’ll never stop fighting for the American dream.”
Read the statement below:
Hey @RubenGallego!
— Tanya Contreras Wheeless (@tanyaforarizona) July 13, 2022
Many women change their last name when they get married, but that doesn’t change who they are or where they came from.
I am proud of my heritage and who I am – today and every day. I will use my name when and how I want.
Full statement below: pic.twitter.com/gYPRasL5SD
Biden received significant criticism and mockery for her remark.
Cassy Garcia, a Hispanic Republican running for Congress in Texas, used it to her advantage, as IJR reported.
“Woke Democrats think Hispanics are tacos. Unfortunately for them, we’re voters. Help me beat Joe Biden’s ‘Latinx’ puppet. Buy your shirt,” Garcia wrote in a tweet.
Her shirt read, “Unique as a taco.”
