Latino leaders nationwide have voiced frustration with the Democratic and Republican parties over what they see as insufficient outreach to Latino voters, despite their potentially decisive role in the 2024 election. In a letter addressed to the chairs of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Republican National Committee (RNC), 15 prominent Latino organizations urged both parties to ramp their efforts to engage Latino voters in key battleground states.
Recent polling by UnidosUS, Entravision, and AltaMed shows that over 48% of Latino voters have not been contacted by either party or their candidates. Only 30% of Latino voters reported outreach from the Democratic Party, while just 24% had been contacted by the Republican Party.
The leaders are concerned that this lack of engagement could hinder voter turnout in a group poised to be pivotal in states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Nevada. In addition to the minimal outreach, misinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities are exacerbating voter confusion about eligibility, the voting process, and the importance of their vote. The Latino organizations are calling on both parties to not only expand their engagement efforts but also to address the misinformation that threatens to suppress Latino voter participation.
Janet Murguía, president and CEO of UnidosUS, highlighted the urgency of the issue. "Latinos are the second-largest group of voters in this country, yet nearly half of our voters have not heard from either party this close to the election. That is unacceptable and inexcusable," she said. "Candidates and parties must realize that our votes will make a difference."
Dr. Juan Andrade, president of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, stressed the need for more investment in Latino voters. "There are 10 million critically important voters who haven't been contacted. Invest in us, and we'll invest in you."
Ramiro Cavazos, president and CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, urged both parties to allocate resources fairly in their outreach to Hispanic American voters. He stressed the importance of increasing voter participation to ensure that the future policies of the country reflect the needs of its 63 million Hispanic citizens.
In September, Travis County officials filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, accusing him of trying to block a program that sends voter registration forms to residents. The lawsuit marks the latest development in an ongoing "voter registration war" between Republican state leaders and local Democratic officials in Austin, often seen as a liberal stronghold in the predominantly conservative state.
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