Univision CEO Blasts Lack of Hispanic Moderators for Presidential Debates

NEW YORK: Randy Falco, the president and CEO of Univision Communications, has expressed his “disappointment” and “disbelief” that the Commission on Presidential Debates has not chosen a Hispanic journalist to moderate any of the U.S. presidential debates.

“The inclusion of CBS’s Elaine Quijano as a moderator for the vice presidential debate is certainly a welcome addition but seems insufficient when taking into account past presidential cycles, future demographic trends and the important role Latinos play in the economic and social fabric of this great nation,” Falco said in a letter to Janet Brown, the executive director of the Commission on Presidential Debates. “Simply put: it’s an abdication of your responsibility to represent and reflect one of the largest and most influential communities in the U.S.”

Falco went on to explain that the Latino turnout is at equal to or higher rates than other voter groups, and candidates must engage and speak directly to these voters.

“We understand the critical role the debate process plays in informing voters about each candidate’s position on the issues that impact them directly, such as jobs and the economy and health, among others,” Falco said. “So it is essential that the community hears firsthand where the candidates stand, what their policy solutions are and how they plan to implement their vision through the prism of a trusted journalist who represents Hispanic America and appreciates the nuances of this diverse demographic.

“We ask again for you to reconsider leaving a Spanish-language moderator out of the presidential debate panels. As always, we stand ready to create additional venues where the committee and the candidates can focus on Latinos. The Hispanic community will play a pivotal role in electing the next president and in all federal elections for the foreseeable future. We look forward to working with the commission to address what we believe to be a troubling trend—the lack of the Hispanic perspective—and hope we can forge a new path forward.”