LOS ANGELES — Latino voters could tip the balance of power.

What You Need To Know

  • Latino Voters make up 33.3% of California's 27th Congressional District

  • The race could determine whether Republicans maintain their narrow majority in the U.S. House.

  • In the 2020 General Election Mike Garcia won by 333 votes

  • A new poll shows Latino voters overwhelmingly cite cost of living, the economy and concerns about jobs as the top issues facing the country
 

Prominent Latino political leaders are energizing voters and going door to door to rally support in California’s 27th Congressional District.

Hector Lozano says he never expected a visit from Democratic Candidate George Whitesides surrounded by influential Latino leaders.

“I was surprised, I was stunned, I was like really. I was just surprised out of all the houses he came to my house. I’m sure it’s not the only house he’s going to, but I was really surprised to meet him,” Lozano said.

He added he hadn’t voted yet and sees the visit as a sign of genuine interest in the community. Lozano says it matters that Whitesides came out and met people in the community.

Christian Arana is the vice president of civic power and policy of the Latino Community Foundation. He says reaching out to Latino voters is crucial in this district.

“Roughly 1 in 5 Latino voters in this district are still undecided so in the final days of this election it’s really important for either candidate, either party or anyone who is super interested in this race to get out there and talk to voters,” says Arana.

A new poll by the Latino Community Foundation found that 33.3% of all eligible voters in District 27 are Latino.

When asked about the issues impacting Latino voters in District 27, incumbent Mike Garcia did not respond to Spectrum News' request for comment, but on his website, he addressed the economy.

“We need to protect the economy at the national level to ensure California pensions remain viable,” Garcia said in a campaign ad.

When asked about the top issues facing the country, Latino voters in each of these districts overwhelmingly cite cost of living, housing costs, and concerns over jobs and the economy, something George Whitesides has also heard when talking to voters. He has promised to create jobs within his district that people won’t have long commutes that keep them away from their family.

He adds his opponent is out of the touch with the community, especially in the Antelope valley.

“We know that he’s not representing us, he’s not representing our values, he’s not representing our economic interests and we have to make a change in this district,” Whitesides said.

Lozano was still undecided when we spoke with him, but he says he definitely will cast his ballot because every vote matters, especially in California’s 27th congressional district.