Latino Vote Will be Decisive in 2024, but Many Latino Voters Report No Contact by Either Party

Latino leaders demand DNC and RNC increase Latino voter engagement and outreach

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Latino leaders across the nation expressed bafflement and sharp disappointment today with both the Democratic and Republican parties over their lack of meaningful outreach to Latino voters. In a letter to the chairs of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Republican National Committee (RNC), 15 organizations called on both parties to escalate their efforts to engage the Latino electorate, which could be decisive in several key battleground states in which the margins of victory will be slim.

An alarming percentage of Latino voters are consistently reporting being neglected by both major parties. Recent polls by UnidosUS, Entravision, and AltaMed revealed that more than 48% of Latino voters have not been contacted at all by either party or their candidates, and only 30% and 24% have reported outreach from the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively.

Latino leaders also called attention to the growing concern regarding misinformation campaigns aimed at confusing Latino voters about their eligibility, the voting process and the importance of their vote. This wave of disinformation disproportionately impacts communities already under-engaged by both major parties, creating an environment in which potential voters may feel discouraged to participate. The organizations’s leaders urged both parties to not only increase their outreach efforts but actively counteract these harmful narratives that jeopardize the integrity of the Latino vote.

Janet Murguía, president and CEO of UnidosUS — the organizing signatory group — emphasized the urgency of this 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. Candidates and parties must realize that our votes will make a difference in this election in states like Pennsylvania, Arizona and Nevada, and we deserve to know how they plan to address the issues that impact us most.”

Dr. Juan Andrade, president of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, stated: “Little more than half of Latino registered voters have been contacted at home, by phone or by mail and have said they’re definitely voting or very likely to vote. That leaves 10 million critically important voters who haven’t been contacted! Invest in us and we’ll invest in you. Voters contacted will be the difference between winning and losing.”

Ramiro Cavazos, president & CEO, United State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, stated: “The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce advocates for more than 5 million businesses contributing almost $1 trillion to America’s overall economy. The Chamber is demanding equity and parity in the outreach efforts and funding allocated towards ‘get out the vote’ campaign efforts by both the Democratic and Republican National Committees targeting Hispanic American registered voters. We encourage increased voter participation in our civic electoral process to ensure America’s future accurately reflects the policy needs of our 63 million Hispanic citizens.”

Patti Tototzintle, president and CEO of Esperanza United, stated: “Latin@s are a critical part of our nation, and we have been for the entire history of this country. Ours is a vibrant, growing, and dynamic community, ready to lead positive change. To take us for granted, to not spend the time, money, and effort to understand Latin@ communities, is a disservice to us and the country as a whole. At Esperanza United, we see the ways Latinas are working to address critical issues like gender-based violence and the benefit entire communities experience when they listen to and value Latin@ voices.”

Evelyn DeJesus, national president of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), said: “Our organization has been actively contacting Latino voters in key states like Pennsylvania and Georgia and the reality is clear: our communities have been abandoned — homes left empty and people left behind. We are not an afterthought and our vote should not be treated as such. Every Latino voice deserves to be heard, especially those struggling in the face of economic hardship. We demand that both the DNC and RNC do more. It’s time to step up, invest in our communities, and recognize the power of the Latino vote. Our voices are not optional — they are critical to this election. We will hold the winning candidate accountable, ensuring our needs and concerns are addressed. Investing in our communities and our vote leads to higher turnout at the polls which is crucial to the outcome of this election and our future”

Monica Ramirez, co-founder of The Latinx House, said: “We are grateful for efforts that are being made to reach Latino voters, including Spanish speaking voters, but we also know from first hand experience that community outreach requires real investment, robust staffing and a firm commitment to reaching some of the hardest to reach people. We join our colleagues in calling on all political parties and candidates to make the kind of investment that is required to reach the Latine electorate with messaging that is accessible to our community. This outreach must be ongoing, year round and every year, not just during election cycles. It is especially important now in the weeks leading up to the next U.S. election.”

Lupe M. Rodríguez, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, stated, “This election will have an enormous impact on our communities. We know that many Latinos/xs are outraged about the direction the country is going, with ongoing attacks on our freedoms and our ability to get the health care we need. Our voices must be heard, and lawmakers must make progress on the issues that affect our lives instead of taking our votes for granted. In an era when elections are won with tight margins, Latino/x voters wield the power to decide elections. But our votes are not a given–they must be earned. Both parties must do better and engage Latinos/xs year-round, not just when they want our votes.”

Kenneth Romero, executive director of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, said: “Latinos are not a monolith, but this year they’ve been very clear that the top issues are the same across the board. The cost of housing is too high, jobs don’t pay enough and everyone needs to stop demonizing immigrants.”

Arturo Vargas, CEO of NALEO Educational Fund, said: “It is frustrating to see that Latino voters are once again an afterthought for the leading candidates and campaigns. We are projecting a 6.5 percent increase from the historic Latino turnout in the 2020 elections, with at least 17.5 million Latinos projected to vote this year. We know that the Latino electorate will be crucial in races across the country, and yet there continues to be significant underinvestment to reach Latino voters from those vying to lead our nation.”

The full letter and list of signatories can be accessed here.

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