Eva Longoria Launches Latino Victory Project, Latino PAC
WASHINGTON, DC — Actress and political activist Eva Longoria threw her support Monday behind a group of Latino candidates running in 2014 as she and other Latinos announced the formation of a new political action committee and national initiative to boost Hispanic political participation.
“We can’t as a community be so engaged in the presidential election and elect a president and yet not turn out for the midterm to elect the people who will work for the president,” said Longoria, who was joined by Texas philanthropist and political activist Henry Muñoz III as they announced theLatino Victory Project in the launch of the group on Cinco de Mayo. The Victory Project’s aim, said Longoria, is to boost the number of Hispanic candidates in local, state and national elections.
In the 2012 elections, 11 million Hispanics voted, but at the same time, over 12 million eligible Latinos did not vote. In 2014, the worry is that Latino political participation will be even lower than it usually is in the midterms.
The group announced the formation of the Latino Victory PAC (political action committee), aimed at raising money and resources for Latino candidates. At the event the group announced its endorsement of seven federal and state level Hispanic candidates.
One of them was Lucy Flores, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in Nevada. Flores told NBC this high-profile support will make a difference. “In the past resources have not been there,” said Flores. She said the PAC would give candidates like her visibility in the 2014 race.
Other candidates which were singled out for support included Rhode Island Democratic gubernatorial candidate Angel Taveras, who is currently mayor of Providence and Amanda Renteria, a Democrat running for Congress in California’s Central Valley.
Longoria and Muñoz, along with Puerto Rican attorney Andrés López, were the trio behind the largest Latino fundraising group for the 2012 elections, The Futuro Fund, which bundled millions of dollars in Latino contributions for President Obama’s re-election. Longoria was also one of the co-chairs of Obama’s re-election campaign and Muñoz was named national finance chair for the Democratic National Committee.
Lending visibility, financial resources and support to Latino political candidates is just one of the group’s initiatives. Another one is building Latino empowerment through educational and professional attainment.
Cristóbal Alex, the Latino Victory Project’s president, said one of the group’s goals was to reach 100,000 “firsts” – the first Latinos in their families to reach educational and professional milestones.
As Eva Longoria said, the aim is to build “Latino currency.”
Here are some links to other articles about the Latino Victory Launch. Associated Press: Longoria, DNC Finance Chief Partner for Latinos New York Times: In California Race, a Latina Democrat Carries Hopes of Her Party and People Washington Post: Can Eva Longoria Start a Latino Political Movement? USA Today: Eva Longoria’s Political Group Aims to Elect Hispanics in 2014 ABC News: Eva Longoria Starts Latino Political Group NBC News: Eva Longoria Launches Latino Victory Project, Latino PAC U.S. News: Eva Longoria Might Help Elect Republicans Latina: Eva Longoria Launches Latino Victory Project to Boost Hispanic Political Power VOXXI: Eva Longoria’s Group Looks to Help Latinos Build Political Power EFE: Eva Longoria Backs Project to Put First Latino in the White House UPI: Eva Longoria Group Kickstarts 2014 Election Push New York Daily News: Eva Longoria Teams up with DNC to Raise Money for Latino Candidates Dallas Morning News: Latino Electoral Push Features Castro, Longoria and Van de Putte Houston Chronicle: Latino Group Tries to Build on Historic Election Turnout San Antonio Express-News: Longoria, Munoz Launch Latino Victory PAC 89.3 KPCC: California Latinos Win Backing of Eva Longoria’s PAC Latin American Herald Tribune: Eva Longoria Backs Project to Put First Latino in the White House My San Antonio: Eva Longoria Launches Latino Victory PAC Local 10: Eva Longoria Endorses Former Gov. Charlie Crist News-Journal: Eva Longoria, DNC Partner for Latinos The Spokesman-Review: People: Eva Longoria, DNC Raising Cash for Latino Candidates Bayou Buzz: Eva Longoria Launches Latino Victory Project, Latino PAC RYOTNews: Eva Longoria Launches the Latino Victory Project to Make Sure Politicians Represent Everyone Contact Music: Eva Longoria Working with Political Organisation to Raise Money for Hispanic Candidates in the U.S. Express: Eva Longoria Working with Political Organisation to Raise Money for Hispanic Candidates Female First: Eva Longoria Works with Political Organisation Raising Money for Hispanic Candidates The Times of India: Eva Longoria Launches Latino Political Group The Indian Express: Eva Longoria Starts Latino Political Group DNA India: Eva Longoria Launches Latino Political Group Star Pulse: Eva Longoria Working with Political Organisation to Raise Money for Hispanic Candidates in the U.S. Techsonia: Latino Victory Project Launched by Eva Longoria
