Mi Familia Vota, a well-known Latino political organization that focuses on increasing voter participation, is actively broadening its influence as an advocacy group for specific causes and as a central hub for Latino voter outreach and promotion.
Mi Familia Vota's President and CEO Héctor Sánchez, who has been leading since 2019, informed The Hill that the organization has shifted from motivating voters to support third-party political agendas to creating and promoting a tailored agenda for Hispanic communities.
Sánchez stated, “Mi Familia Vota has the largest and most advanced field and political operation in the country.”
“We have been making significant investments to expand our national office staff to support field operations in 10 states.”
The organization, renowned for its ability to reach voters in often overlooked communities, is enhancing its infrastructure to gather useful data from these interactions with voters.
While many grassroots organizations might send out mailers and conduct door-knocking efforts, Sánchez mentioned that Mi Familia Vota aims to make these interactions two-way, collecting voter data as well as policy priorities at the individual voter level.
“We have also been making significant investments in data research and innovation. Our organization revolves around and is guided by data. We conduct extensive research and heavily invest in innovation. We carry out numerous tests to better utilize the data and gain a deeper understanding of what resonates in the community.”
With this approach, Sánchez aims to make Mi Familia Vota an essential point of contact for campaigns targeting Latino voters.
Latino political groups have long criticized national political campaigns for delaying Hispanic outreach, particularly in more isolated communities, until the last minute before elections.
This approach has two main negative impacts: It decreases voter turnout and limits these communities to a take-it-or-leave-it stance on policy proposals.
“Something that is very important and has not been done before, at Mi Familia Vota we will make a strong early investment in messaging and paid media,” Sánchez stated.
“This is Mi Familia Vota taking proactive steps to send a clear message that we will not wait for late investments. We need to change these practices if we want to secure the Latino vote; we need to start early.”
While the organization's expanded presence comes with higher expenses, Sánchez explained that the policy advocacy approach also fosters financial independence.
“As an organization, we have significantly diversified our funding, moving from small community donations and individual donors to foundations and various funding sources. We are not reliant on political funding for our operations. We are also driven by issue advocacy, which provides greater flexibility and stability as an organization, strengthening our ability to advocate on the issues,” Sánchez added.
Along with the group’s structural changes, Mi Familia Vota announced Thursday a rebranding, including new graphic design for the group’s logos and public image.
But Sánchez said the group’s roots in direct contact with Latino voters will remain at the core of Mi Familia Vota’s mission.
“We understand that going into the field and connecting with Latino voters is the most crucial aspect of mobilizing the Latino community. We are present at doorsteps, supermarkets, and within communities. We employ local individuals and cultivate local leadership to arrange and generate momentum. This is what truly influences elections, as we are aware. Simultaneously, we are establishing a more advanced infrastructure.”
