The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) campaign arm is beginning its efforts to get more people to vote before the November election by working with local groups in Arizona, Florida, and Texas.
Bold PAC is announcing the initiative on Thursday, concentrating on the three states with important congressional races.
Bold PAC Chair Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) said, “Latino voters will be crucial in the 2024 elections, determining whether Democrats can uphold the White House, Senate, and regain the House. It is vital to make sure Latinos are motivated to vote for Democrats in November, given the high stakes for our community and the future of America.”
The core goal of the political action committee is to increase the CHC’s membership, and its particular emphasis on Hispanic voters provides the group with unique access to that voter base, in contrast to other official party committees which often face challenges in this area.
The group’s efforts to increase voter turnout could impact higher-level elections, particularly in a presidential race that may hinge on narrow margins in Latino-heavy battlegrounds such as Arizona.
The launch focuses on three states with Senate races that are of interest to Bold PAC — in two cases, there is potential to expand the CHC’s influence in the upper chamber.
Victoria McGroary, executive director of Bold PAC, explained, “The Senate does not often present good opportunities. Over many cycles, Bold PAC has consistently prioritized bringing new Latinos to the Senate or defending Latino senators we already have.
She also cited Senator [Catherine] Cortez Masto [D-Nev.] as an example, stating, “Last cycle, we made significant investments in Nevada on her behalf because it was crucial to support the first and only Latina senator in the Senate.”
In Arizona, Bold PAC is teaming up with Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) to support Chair Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) who is seeking to fill retiring independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s seat, in a head-to-head battle against former GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake. This race represents the CHC’s best opportunity to maintain or increase its four Senate seats. Senators Cortez Masto, Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) are not up for reelection, and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) is not seeking the Democratic nomination for his seat, following a series of corruption allegations and related indictments.
Menéndez has mentioned that he will consider running as a Democratic independent if he can clear the federal indictments by the summer.
Bold PAC is also aiming to boost Latino voter turnout in Florida, where former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.) is seeking to defeat Republican Sen. Rick Scott, who, despite being a strong favorite, is one of the GOP’s most vulnerable Senate incumbents, along with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
Victoria McGroary said, “We are excited to have, once again, not one but two incredibly unique and strong opportunities to gain Senate seats. This has been an increasing focus of Bold PAC over several cycles because such opportunities are rare.” Florida, where Bold PAC is collaborating with Florida Freedom PAC, is also home to important House races for the CHC, including the reelection bid of Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.). The number of people who vote is likely to be a crucial factor in Soto’s campaign. His constituents include a significant portion of central Florida’s Puerto Rican population, an important group that Democrats need to attract in order to regain influence in the Sunshine State.
Even though national Democrats have become cautious about investing in Florida due to the state consistently leaning towards the Republicans, Latino organizations like Bold PAC have continued to invest in the state.
“Bold PAC put a lot of money into Florida during the last election cycle. Many organizations didn't do the same, but Bold PAC did, and as a result, we were able to bring another member to the CHC because of it, the first Gen-Z member of Congress,” said McGroary, referring to Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.).
Bold PAC’s launch, an initial six-figure effort that’s set to come before other investments across the country, will also include a partnership with Somos PAC Texas, the local branch of a Super PAC that played a significant role in Cortez Masto’s reelection campaign in 2022.
In Texas, Bold PAC will concentrate on a series of House races that could determine the makeup of that chamber, and whose competitive nature could impact statewide calculations, such as by boosting Latino voter turnout in November in the Rio Grande Valley.
Turnout in that area is often higher in May, with voters more engaged in local elections like school boards, but voting patterns could be changing due to the emergence of closely contested House races — and strategic mobilization investments.
“At Bold PAC, we understand that investments are really important, and the timing of investments is also crucial,” McGroary said. “And all the money in the world invested improperly without good authentic strategy and at the wrong time, really doesn’t matter.”
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) campaign arm is starting its efforts to mobilize voters before the November election through partnerships with grassroots groups in Arizona, Florida, and Texas. Bold PAC is unveiling this initiative on Thursday, focusing on the three states with important congressional races. “Latino voters will be crucial to the 2024 elections, determining whether Democrats…
In Texas, Bold PAC will focus on a series of House races that could determine that chamber’s composition, and whose competitive nature could alter statewide calculations, for instance by driving Latino voter turnout in November in the Rio Grande Valley.
Turnout in that region is often heavier in May, with voters more involved in local elections like school boards but voting patterns could be shifting with newly-competitive House races — and strategic mobilization investments.
“What we know at Bold PAC is investments really matter, and the timing of investments really matters,” McGroary said. “And all the money in the world invested improperly without good authentic strategy and at the wrong time, really doesn’t matter.”
