Top Hispanic at Republican National Committee resigns over Donald Trump

WASHINGTON - A top Hispanic strategist at the Republican National Committee has resigned, unable to defend Donald Trump any longer.

Ruth Guerra had been the RNC's national director of Hispanic media, serving as a top surrogate for the party as it looked to make inroads with Latino voters and making frequent TV appearances in English and Spanish to try to lead outreach.

But Trump's ascendance to the top of the GOP has made that all but impossible, and sources say she had found it increasingly difficult to defend the party as a whole with Trump's ongoing insults towards Hispanics. Her resignation comes shortly after Trump lit into the federal judge presiding over the Trump University case for being "Mexican"^[1] even though he was born in Indiana.

Donald Trump slammed the judge presiding over the Trump University case for being "Mexican."

(JASON SZENES/EPA)

Guerra is joining the American Action Network and its Congressional Leadership Fund super PAC, groups focused on helping House Republicans.

Obama warns America not to fall for Trump's 'okey-doke'^[2]

"We're thrilled to have such a talented and experienced operative joining our team," AAN and CLF President Mike Shields said in a statement Thursday morning.

Donald Trump plays GOP voters for suckers -- calls climate change 'bulls--t,' then sumits plan for a wall to protect his golf course from 'global warming.'

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"Ruth has both national and congressional experience. She will be expanding her role as a conservative voice into congressional districts across America, on both policy and political issues."

Guerra is being replaced by Helen Aguirre Ferré, a former advisor on Jeb Bush's presidential campaign who has criticized Trump in the past.

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement that Ferré "will be an integral part of our Party's ongoing commitment to build relationships and communicate our message directly with Hispanic voters."