In an unprecedented move since its establishment in 1929, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization, has officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States.
The announcement was made through LULAC’s political arm, the LULAC Adelante PAC, on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.
The endorsement aligns with Harris’s campaign activities, as she is set to hold rallies in Glendale, Arizona, on Friday and Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday—two pivotal battleground states with substantial Latino populations.
Domingo Garcia, the LULAC Adelante PAC chairman and a past LULAC president, stated:
“We are proud to endorse Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because of the real issues facing Latino communities and all Americans across the nation; we can trust them to do what is right for our community and the country.”
Members of the PAC’s board plan to join Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, for the formal endorsement announcement ahead of the Nevada rally.
The PAC praised Harris’s longstanding commitment to justice, equality, and inclusivity—values that deeply resonate with the Latino community and are seen as essential for steering the country in the right direction.
Recent polling data underscores the significance of this endorsement. A CBS News poll indicates that increased Democratic enthusiasm has helped Harris recalibrate the 2024 race against former President Donald Trump.
Harris holds a narrow 1-point lead nationally, with both candidates tied in key battleground states. This marks a shift from former President Joe Biden’s 5-point deficit nationally before his withdrawal from the race.
Capitalizing on this momentum, the Harris-Walz campaign has intensified efforts to court Latino voters, launching its first ad targeting this demographic titled “Determination.”
Kevin Munoz, a senior spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign, remarked:
“As the daughter of an immigrant mother, like our community, Vice President Harris knows the power of determination. It’s why throughout her life she’s taken on violent criminals, big banks, and greedy corporations—and won.”
The Latino electorate’s influence is undeniable, with more than 36.2 million eligible Latino voters poised to cast ballots in the upcoming election—the highest in U.S. electoral history, according to Pew Research.
In battleground states like Arizona and Nevada, where Latinos constitute nearly one in four voters, their impact could be decisive. In 2020, President Biden secured Arizona by fewer than 10,000 votes and Nevada by under 34,000 votes.
Current CBS News polls show Harris and Trump tied at 49% support from likely voters in Arizona, while in Nevada, Harris leads with 50% to Trump’s 48%.
LULAC’s grassroots operations in these and other swing states, such as Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, are expected to play a crucial role in mobilizing Latino voters.
Garcia further stated:
“Vice President Harris has proven herself a stalwart ally and advocate of the Latino community throughout her career and is the right choice for the continued prosperity of Latinos in the United States and the future of our country.”
He also issued a pointed critique of opposing political tactics, adding:
“The politics of hate-mongering and scapegoating Latinos and immigrants must be stopped!”
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has been actively seeking to attract Latino voters, particularly Hispanic males in traditionally Democratic-leaning states like Nevada.
Their strategy focuses on peeling off enough Latino support to secure victories in key states, even if they do not win a majority within this demographic.
Historically, Latino voters have leaned Democratic, but support levels have fluctuated. In 2020, 61% of Latino voters supported Joe Biden, while 36% backed Donald Trump—a narrower margin than 2016’s election between Hillary Clinton and Trump.
As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, endorsements like LULAC’s could prove pivotal in swaying the Latino electorate and shaping the race’s outcome.
