The special event will feature Tom Perez, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Daniel Garza, President of the Libre Initiative, Dr. Matt Barreto, Faculty Director of LPPI, Tatiana Matta, Recent Candidate for CA-32, and Frankie Negrón, Grammy Nominated Salsa Singer
Contact: Maria Samaniego
Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program
202-736-2299 | maria.samaniego@aspeninstitute.org
The event is co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program and UCLA’s Latino Policy & Politics Initiative, and will take place on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. PT at the Japanese American National Museum. The venue is located at 100 North Central Avenue in Los Angeles, California.
As the country’s largest racial/ethnic group, the political power of Latinos has the potential to determine the success or failure of key political campaigns from across the United States. This event will highlight the important role the Latino electorate plays in shaping domestic policy, with specific attention to how the country’s 27 million Latino eligible voters impacted the outcome of key 2018 races, including battleground Congressional races and statewide races, and what this means for the future of Congress and the 2020 Presidential election. During the discussion, panelists will explore whether the electoral might Latinos exerted in these midterm elections has staying power and how it can be harnessed for elections in 2020 and beyond.
“The 2018 midterm election was one of the most important elections of our lifetime, and the Latino vote played a pivotal role in the successes of the Democratic Party across the country,” said Tom Perez, Chair of the Democratic National Committee. “Latinos demonstrated that we wield a powerful influence in today’s electoral politics and cannot be taken for granted. The discussion organized by Aspen Institute and the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative highlights fresh insights into the voting trends among the diverse Latino electorate and gives the party new outlooks on how we can continue to engage and mobilize the Latino community for future elections.”
“Electoral victories in the midterm elections across the country, and especially across the South, were made possible by strong support from the Latino electorate. UCLA is proud to partner with the Aspen Institute to bring attention to the electoral consequences of 2018 and the policy considerations that await Congress come January,” Sonja Diaz, Executive Director of UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative, said.
Abigail Golden-Vazquez, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program said: “Latinos represent 12.9 percent of the electorate today and this is steadily rising, yet their electoral participation as a share of voters has traditionally been lower than other ethnic groups. Latinos have the power to sway elections, if they exercise that power. This discussion in partnership with UCLA’s Latino Policy & Politics Initiative offers timely insights on what worked and what didn’t work in mobilizing the Latino electorate for the midterms and what will sustain momentum moving forward.”
“The 2018 midterm election was one of the most important elections of our lifetime, and the Latino vote played a pivotal role in the successes of the Democratic Party across the country. Latinos demonstrated that we wield a powerful influence in today’s electoral politics and cannot be taken for granted. The discussion organized by Aspen Institute and the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative highlights fresh insights into the voting trends among the diverse Latino electorate and gives the party new outlooks on how we can continue to engage and mobilize the Latino community for future elections.”
The Aspen Institute founded the Latinos and Society Program in order to bring Latinos and non-Latinos together to learn about their shared future and jointly explore solutions to the challenges of our times, particularly in the areas of civic participation, economic advancement and educational opportunity. It connects Latino leaders to Aspen Institute programs and networks, fostering collaborations that contribute to a more informed and inclusive vision of America. To learn more, follow @AspenLatinos, or visit AspenInstitute.org/policy-work/latinos-society.
UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative (LPPI) is a comprehensive think tank that addresses the most critical domestic policy challenges facing Latinos and communities of color in states and localities across the U.S. through research, advocacy, civic engagement, and leadership development. To learn more, follow @UCLAlatino, or visit latino.ucla.edu.
The event will be available on livestream at the following link: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/the-2018-midterm-elections-the-latino-vote/
To register to attend as press, or for more information about this event, please contact Maria Samaniego, by phone: 202-736-2299, or by email: maria.samaniego@aspeninstitute.org.
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