Reporting on a historic election

Since Harris' candidacy was announced, Cavazos’ days have been filled with hours upon hours of research, getting familiar with the candidate’s policies in contrast to Biden’s.

When she’s not researching, Cavazos is on the road, crisscrossing the country wherever the campaign bus takes her. In one day, she can travel hundreds of miles, from a rally in North Carolina to a small city in Pennsylvania.

Mornings are usually reserved for filming live takes or streaming updates on Harris’ campaign — her latest policy positions, most recent remarks and any strategy updates. From there, it’s on to the next battleground state.

“We don’t necessarily always know where we’re going to be tomorrow or the day after because anything can pop up in the campaign schedule,” Cavazos said. “We’re also not told where these events are going to be, so my bags are always packed, and I’m always ready to go.”

The constant upheaval can be taxing, and Cavazos only gets the chance to sleep in her own bed whenever Harris is back in Washington. While covering such a rapidly changing and historic election has been exciting, Cavazos is ready for the news cycle to slow down a bit.

 “You really have to look at it as an adventure because otherwise it can be overwhelming,” she said. “Your social life is kind of on pause up until November because everything is campaign trail focused, and whatever the vice president is doing, where she is, that’s where we’re at.”

Despite this, Cavazos enjoys traveling the country and discovering small towns she never would have visited otherwise. Over the past few months, she’s seen a more candid view of what America is really about.

"It gives you a glimpse into why the country is where it stands and why people crave certain policies,” Cavazos said. “You get to meet people of all walks of life and political views, and it makes you understand where they come from."

Cavazos’ love of people and their politics started in college and has continued into her early career. Right out of school, she saw firsthand how political decisions were changing local communities.

“My first year of working was under former President Trump’s administration, and I was covering the border,” Cavazos said. “My love for politics stems from being out in the field and covering the direct impacts of politics coming from Washington.”

But Cavazos’ passion for storytelling goes back even further. Growing up, her parents almost always had a Spanish-language TV network Univision on in the background, with Jorge Ramos reporting. Her mother would read his books aloud, captivating Cavazos with stories of his adventures braving wars and extreme weather. Watching Ramos in action opened her eyes to the world of journalism.

“I liked the fact that there is always a different matter every day, a different story,” Cavazos said. “It was an opportunity to learn different fields and always be on the go. I think journalism worked with my personality and inability to sit still.” 

When Cavazos came to Moody College in 2014, she began as a print journalist but slowly moved to broadcast after several internships, time working at Texas Student Television and support from professors such as Diana Dawson and Robert Quigley. 

Cavazos graduated in 2018 and went straight into the industry, working as a local reporter in Houston, a multimedia journalist in her hometown of McAllen, a network producer in Miami and a national correspondent in Houston, all for Univision.

During her time in Miami, she finally got the chance to work for her inspiration, Ramos.

“He is the reason why I joined journalism, and then getting to have the opportunity to work closely with him and produce for him was an amazing opportunity,” Cavazos said. “It was something that I think I worked hard for but never truly wished for. I think I just never expected it.”

As a multimedia journalist for Univision and in collaboration with Fox News, she reported stories in English and Spanish, which helped her get a deeper understanding of the communities she covered. On the campaign trail for CBS, Cavazos still focuses heavily on Latino voters, using the skills she gained reporting in Spanish for six years.

"It’s important to report in multiple languages because it allows you to connect with different people,” Cavazos said. “It allows you to communicate with them and actually understand what their problems are and what it is they have to say.”

Supporting the Latino community is a priority for Cavazos, and she plans to keep reporting to them long after this election is over.

“I know that I want to continue covering politics and making sure that we hold our administrations accountable,” she said. “Whoever wins, what remains the same for me is my passion and commitment to the Latino community.”