By: Ashmar Mandou

Election Day is just days away and Senior Advisor to Governor JB Pritzker, Jose Sanchez Molina is encouraging residents to go out and vote to bring about change. “Voting is so important and can really bring about change. I encourage everyone to not sit this one out,” said Sanchez Molina. He recently spoke to Lawndale Bilingual News about the importance of voting and how Governor Pritzker is reaching out to the Latino community.

Lawndale News: Election Day is a few days away. What can you tell me about this campaign cycle, in terms of strategy and ensuring you are reaching communities across Illinois, particularly the Latino community?
Jose Sanchez Molina: I think for us, what we wanted to do is really reach everybody, particularly our Latino community, where they are at. So the governor has visited Latino communities throughout the State, especially those impacted by the ICE raids. We are doing radio ads, we are doing print ads. On top of that Christian Mitchell (lieutenant gubernatorial candidate) is also supporting Gov. Pritzker by doubling down on all the efforts he has made. The governor is making videos where he is speaking Spanish. We also have a WhatsApp channel that people can join, called Fuerza JB Pritzker where they will get all our content in Spanish. Really the message that we want to put out is this is it. Election Day is next week and nothing that we can do matters more than voting and bringing our friends, our family, bringing them with us. The Governor keeps repeating the importance of an election as it will have consequences for people, not just here in Illinois, but across the country.

LN: Governor Pritzker has sharply criticized Operation Midway Blitz, and ICE agent tactics. What legal or physical measures does the State have to hold federal agents accountable should federal courts rule in their favor?
JSM: There were two big things that the Governor was able to secure. One is that he made it possible for people to sue individual ICE agents who broke the law. The second is that he created the Illinois Accountability Commission, which has collected evidence of wrongdoings from these ICE agents and when the time comes, when there is an administration change, and we can pursue action against that wrongdoing, we will be ready. It is not a matter of “if,” it’s really more a matter of “when.”

LN: What response does the Governor have in regards to House Republicans questions a city’s Sanctuary status?
JSM: You know, JB has made it really clear that he has our backs. When ICE agents came into our neighborhood, he stood up and famously said, “If you come for my people, you come through me.” On the other hand, we have Daren Bailey who has taken Trump’s side and said he would welcome him. So, the governor has said that he will continue to fight for us. I think the request that was then put out to people was as he fights for us, we should show up for him. We do that by voting for him on November 3rd or during early voting.

LN: The “One Big Beautiful Bill” jeopardized social programs, such as SNAP and Planned Parenthood. How will the Governor fight to ensure people continue to have access to those services?
JSM: Part of what he tries to do throughout his budget is not only to make sure it’s balanced, but to try and protect those essential programs that will help people. Again, to go back to the point that I made earlier about voting being so important. Not just here, but we see it across the country. The thing that I will say is that voting is an act of hope. It’s really a thing that we believe can make things better, and that we are taking action to make things better. I know that people are hurting, I know that we have had to make tough decisions, not just in Illinois, but across the country and it’s time to show that we are frustrated, that we are not going to sit this out.

LN: What message do you have for people discouraged about whether their vote counts or not, or have lost faith in the system?
JSM: There are two things that I will say. First, generations of people marched, organized, sacrificed, and some even lost their lives fighting to make sure that we have this right. Second, if our vote wasn’t as powerful as you might feel or think sometimes, remember that Republicans are doing all they can to try and hurt the Voting Rights Act so that Black people and Latino people are not able to vote. So, our vote has power. It is a tool to get to where we want to go and we demonstrate that we have power by casting our vote. People can go to iwillvote.com or voyavotar.com to get all the information they need this election.