Progressive Latino group staffs up for 2020

A major progressive Latino political group is expanding its leadership team ahead of the 2020 election cycle, when dozens of Democrats may be competing for the Hispanic vote in the presidential primary.

Latino Victory on Tuesday named four new members to its leadership team.

Former political director Mayra Macias was promoted to vice president, while Javier Gamboa, the former Hispanic communications chief for the House Democrats’ campaign arm, was hired as communications director. Maria del Rosario González-Escareño was promoted to press secretary and Tomás Kloosterman was hired as digital director.

{mosads}In 2018, Latino Victory endorsed 58 candidates, 43 of whom won their elections.

Latino voter participation increased in size and influence in 2018, as better-funded Latino organizations drove turnout in key districts.

According to Pew Research, nine House districts in which Latinos make up at least 10 percent of the population switched from Republican to Democratic control in 2018.

Latino political organizations see a modified 2020 primary calendar that makes California and Texas earlier voting primary states, which will increase the influence of Hispanics nationally. Those two states have the country’s largest Hispanic populations.

“Make no mistake, the road to becoming the Democratic presidential nominee runs through the Latino community. Latino Victory is ready to make history in 2020 by electing even more Latinos across the country and winning back the Senate and the White House,” said Alex.

Latino Victory is a close ally of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus campaign arm, Bold PAC.