By Maribel Velazquez
A broad coalition of Latino organizations and community leaders in Texas launched a new electoral mobilization strategy that seeks to increase Hispanic participation in the November elections, amid growing concerns about the cost of living and the impact of immigration policies on the state’s communities.
During a digital press conference, activists and representatives of various organizations pointed out that the fear of immigration raids and the tightening of immigration measures is affecting even US citizens and people with real status.
“They are afraid to go to work, to take their children to school or to enter a government office,” they explained while highlighting the fear of many of them of being singled out or detained by immigration authorities.
“This is not a debate about border security, it is a civil rights crisis,” stated one of the participants when referring to the atmosphere of fear that, they say, has spread in Latino communities throughout the state.
The Latino vote, a growing force
The organizers highlighted that Latinos represent more than 40% of the Texas population and that its political influence continues to grow. However, they maintained that electoral campaigns have historically ignored this sector or have addressed it only from the immigration issue.
The coalition assured that the Hispanic voters They are more concerned about everyday issues such as the price of food, access to health care, the cost of housing, wages, and economic opportunities. “You have to talk to people about what really matters to them,” they noted.
Additionally, they cited data from the organization UnidosUS showing that more than forty-eight percent of Latino voters were not contacted by any political party to discuss voting, a gap they seek to close through year-round community organizing campaigns.
A community-based strategy
The participating groups announced that they will intensify door-to-door visits, phone calls and cultural activities to connect with voters. They also highlighted initiatives that use community spaces, such as quinceañeras and family events, to promote voter registration and civic participation.
“What happens in Texas will have an effect on the entire country”stated the organizers, who believe that the state could become one of the main scenarios of political dispute in 2026. For them, the challenge is not only to mobilize voters, but to transform the demographic weight of the Latin community into an electoral force capable of influencing the political course of the state and the country.
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