Latina voter groups emphasize climate issues in election campaigns

Latina voter campaigns are spotlighting climate change, aiming to mobilize Latinas who see climate action as crucial for their families’ health and safety.

Dorany Pineda reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

• Climate-focused voter outreach targets Latina mothers, who often experience climate impacts like wildfires, extreme heat and pollution firsthand.
• Latinas tend to vote at higher rates than Latino men, giving them a potentially decisive role in close races, especially on climate policy.
• Environmental issues resonate with Latino communities, where many hold jobs susceptible to extreme climate conditions or live near polluting industries.

Key quote:

“We’re the ones serving meals to our neighbors and taking the kids to school and doing our due diligence in terms of holding up our communities, and voting is part of that.”

— Katharine Pichardo-Erskine, executive director of the Latino Victory Project

Why this matters:

Latino communities face disproportionate climate risks, with workers often exposed to unsafe temperatures and pollutants. With many viewing climate as an election priority, Latina voter turnout could push policymakers toward stronger climate protections.

Related:

• Hurricanes devastate immigrant dreams in southwest Florida
• Safe water remains elusive for California's rural communities
• Chicago’s Latino neighborhoods fight for more parks to combat climate change