The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization, made history by endorsing a presidential candidate for the first time since its inception in 1929. CBS News reported that the LULAC Adelante PAC will endorse Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday, a significant move as Harris is set to hold rallies in critical battleground states with large Latino populations – Glendale, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Domingo Garcia, the chairman of the LULAC Adelante PAC and a former LULAC president, expressed the organization’s pride in endorsing Harris and Tim Walz, citing their commitment to addressing the real issues facing Latino communities and all Americans. The endorsement will be formally announced during the campaign’s Nevada rally on Saturday, where members of the PAC’s board will join Harris and Walz.
In a statement, the PAC highlighted Harris’s dedication to justice, equality, and inclusivity, values that resonate deeply with the Latino community and are seen as essential for moving the country forward. A recent CBS News poll indicated that Democratic excitement has bolstered Harris’s position in the 2024 race against former President Donald Trump, with Harris holding a 1-point edge nationally and being tied with Trump across battleground states.
The Harris-Walz campaign aims to capitalize on this momentum by courting Latino voters, with the release of their first ad targeting Latinos titled “Determination.” Kevin Munoz, a senior spokesperson for the campaign, emphasized Harris’s history of taking on powerful entities and her determination to beat Trump, who is running on an anti-Latino platform.
Recent polls showed a shift in Latino voter support from Mr. Biden to Trump following a disastrous debate in June and prior to Mr. Biden stepping down from the Democratic ticket. In July, a Pew Research poll indicated that Mr. Biden and Trump were tied at 36% among Latino voters, a significant change from the 61% support Mr. Biden received in 2020.
With more than 36.2 million eligible Latino voters in 2024, the highest in electoral history, the Latino vote is poised to play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the election. Arizona and Nevada, with their significant Latino populations, will be pivotal states in the race to the White House for Harris or Trump, given the narrow margins by which Mr. Biden won these states in 2020.
In Arizona, where nearly one in four voters is Latino, Harris and Trump are tied with 49% support from likely voters, while in Nevada, Harris leads with 50% support compared to Trump’s 48%. Beyond the endorsement, LULAC has a strong grassroots operation in key battleground states, not limited to the Southwest, and is targeting Latino voters in swing states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Garcia reiterated the organization’s support for Harris, emphasizing her track record as an ally and advocate for the Latino community and the importance of stopping the politics of hate and scapegoating Latinos and immigrants. In contrast, the Trump campaign has focused on appealing to Latino voters, particularly Hispanic males, in an effort to secure key states in the election.
While Latino voters have historically favored Democratic candidates, the margin of support has varied over the years. In 2020, 61% of Latino voters chose Joe Biden, compared to 36% for Donald Trump, a narrower margin than in the 2016 election between Hillary Clinton and Trump.
As the campaign intensifies, both parties are vying for Latino support, recognizing the significance of this demographic in determining the election outcome. With a record number of eligible Latino voters in 2024, their voices and votes will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the country.
