Voto Latino reveals 6-figure Texas investment alongside Talarico, Hinojosa event

Voto Latino on Friday unveiled a new six-figure investment aimed at boosting Latino voter engagement in Texas with early voting kicking off in the state next week.

The civic engagement organization said in a news release first shared with The Hill that it was investing more than $500,000 in the state. The investment comes ahead of the group’s event in the Rio Grande Valley later this month with Democratic candidates running in closely watched midterm races.

President Trump and Republicans have seen his support among Latino voters slip heading into the November elections, in which he has repeatedly urged Americans to cast their votes as if he were “on the ballot.” This voting demographic was key to the president’s 2024 victory in the state.

Maria Teresa Kumar, the group’s president and co-founder, called Texas “ground zero for change” in a statement announcing the investment.

“We are heading straight to the epicenter of the Latino vote to make sure every voter is ready to cast their ballot,” Kumar said. “Latinos are on the brink of changing the political landscape of Texas and the nation.”

The group’s Oct. 25 event will feature three Democratic candidates in tightly contested midterm races, including gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa, Senate hopeful James Talarico and House candidate Bobby Pulido.

Hinojosa, who is running to unseat Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), said there was “no better place” to close out her campaign.

“For too long, Texans have been paying more and getting less under Greg Abbott,” she said in a statement. “I’m proud to be joining Voto Latino, making sure every family in the Valley has the information and the power to make their voice heard from now until Election Day.”

Talarico is running in a tightly contested race against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R).

“Latino families in Texas have always carried this state forward, and they should have leaders who listen and deliver,” he said in a statement. “Our democracy works best when every neighbor has a seat at the table, and I’m grateful to Voto Latino for bringing us together for these final days.”

Pulido, a Latin Grammy-winning singer from the Rio Grande Valley, is running in the state’s 15th District against incumbent GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz.

“What I hear from families isn’t about left or right. They want good jobs, affordable health care, and schools that give their kids a real shot,” he said in a statement. “Our community has always shown up for one another, and I’m proud to be here with Voto Latino to make sure every voice in the Valley is heard.”