Latinos are California’s fastest growing demographic and the largest voting block in the state, but they were highly underrepresented in June’s primary election.   

Data from Political Data Intelligence shows only 15% of the 6 million registered Latino voters cast their ballots.

“Inside the Issues” host Alex Cohen spoke with Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, the CEO of The Latino Community Foundation, about ways to get more Latino communities involved in the political process. 

“It’s a product of a number of things,” she said when asked about why those June primary numbers were so low. “Candidates have done a really poor job of engaging the Latino community.” 

Martinez Garcel also partially blames the pandemic. 

“Most Latino families have been essential workers. Only 1 out of 5 Latino workers was able to work at home. So, there’s a weariness coming out of these last two years.” 

The Latino Community Foundation runs one of the largest campaigns in the state to engage communities, families and voters.  

“It’s been a while where our Latino families have seen and felt how the government is working for them,” Martinez Garcel said.

In April 2020, the group conducted the largest poll of Latino voters in the state. It found the top three issues in California were inflation, cost of living and housing affordability. 

Martinez Garcel said the poll also relieved a disconnect between federal and state investments, like the American Rescue Plan and The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, that have been made to facilitate some of the economic burden that Latino families are experiencing.

“There was a lack of connection between what those investments mean for Latino families and what they’re intended to do in terms of making it easier for them to recover from the pandemic and the economic downfall that happened.”

The group announced the Latino Power Fund, a $50 million initiative to strengthen grassroots organizations and mobilize voters.

“This is how we strengthen our democracy,” Martinez Garcel said. “When the electorate reflects the demographics of that region of the state, then our democracy is really representative of the people of California. It takes money and it takes time, but this is about strengthening our democracy and we’re worth it. The Latino community is worth the investment.”

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