A recent TelevisaUnivision poll revealed exactly how the Kamala Harris campaign has reinvigorated her party's chances of conquering the coveted Latino vote across the country, as 62% of Latinos have become much more likely to vote in November since she stepped in for Joe Biden.
Despite the gains, however, analysts warn that Harris still lags behind the historic Latino-vote threshold that Democrats have required to win the presidency. Barack Obama, for example, maintained strong Latino support, never dropping below 67% in his presidential campaigns. And Biden himself enjoyed an overall 65% support from Latinos when he reached the White House in 2020.
With momentum seemingly cooling off after a blazing couple of weeks, the Harris campaign is pulling out all the stops to intensify its efforts to engage Latino voters, including the addition of four experienced Latino strategists to its team. The newly onboarded members are Alida García, Jorge Neri, Nathaly Arriola Maurice, and Jess Morales Rocketto, all of whom bring expertise from previous national campaigns and advocacy work.
"With less than 60 days left until election day, the Harris-Walz campaign is entering a more aggressive phase on the campaign trail and bolstering existing efforts to earn the Latino vote," said Harris-Walz campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez to The Hill.
The new incorporations include a who's who in the field of Latino outreach from past elections. Here's a look at the names:
- Alida García served as a senior adviser on migration in the Biden White House and has extensive experience in immigration advocacy. García's prior work includes directing Latino voter engagement for President Obama's 2012 reelection campaign and leading Latinos for Kamala Harris during Harris's first run for California Attorney General.
- Jorge Neri is a Chicago native and former senior adviser to President Biden. He brings a background in organizing and campaign management, having worked on President Obama's 2012 campaign and Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign in Nevada. Neri's experience in immigration and labor advocacy in the Midwest adds further depth to the campaign's strategy.
- Nathaly Arriola Maurice has worked to increase Latino representation in media and served as a senior adviser in both the Biden and Obama White Houses, is another key addition. Her experience includes advising former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and working on Latino outreach efforts in Nevada, a pivotal swing state.
- Jess Morales Rocketto, known for her advocacy work and media entrepreneurship, rounds out the team. Morales Rocketto's firm, the Latino Media Network, made headlines in 2022 for its $60 million acquisition of Hispanic-serving radio stations. Her experience in digital organizing for the Obama 2012 and Clinton 2016 campaigns will be vital as the Harris-Walz campaign seeks to mobilize Latino voters.
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