FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT:  
comms@latinafutures.org

Latinas Poised to Shape the Future of U.S. Politics in 2024  
New Research Brief Highlights the Electoral Power of Latinas in Key Battleground States

As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, a new research brief from the Latina Futures 2050 Lab reveals the growing influence of Latina voters in United States politics. Latinas are expected to play a pivotal role in determining the outcomes of this year’s election in key battleground states.

The brief, authored by experts Veronica Terriquez, Steven Carmona Mora and Sonja Diaz, outlines how Latinas, as a youthful, rapidly growing electorate, are increasingly becoming a decisive voting bloc. Key findings from the brief include:

• Latinas comprise 12% of all registered women voters in the U.S. and stand to have a strong influence in five states where they make up more than 20% of registered voters: Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.
• In the 2020 Presidential Election, 68% of registered Latinas voted, surpassing the turnout of Latino men by six percentage points, setting the stage for large turnout numbers that have the ability to shift election outcomes.
• Latinas are younger on average compared to other key demographics, with a median age of 45 years, compared to 53 for non-Hispanic white women, indicating the opportunity to build up a younger, deeply engaged bloc of voters.
• In states like Arizona and Texas, Latinas’ participation in critical debates such as reproductive rights has already begun shaping the political landscape.

Terriquez, co-author of the brief and director of UCLA’s Chicano Studies Research Center, emphasized the unique potential of Latina voters in 2024, saying: “This election cycle is a historic moment for Latinas to shape the future of U.S. politics. Latinas are not only a growing segment of the electorate, but they can also play an influential role within their communities. If candidates and campaigns address their concerns, Latinas may mobilize their family members and trusted networks, shaping the outcomes of elections for this election cycle and future election cycles. In key battleground states where they comprise a significant segment of the electorate, that power will also give them the ability to guide the direction of the country on critical issues such as women’s rights, healthcare and economic justice.”

Much of Latina Futures’ work is focused on how engaging Latinas can help ensure a vibrant and multiracial democracy where historically underrepresented voices are heard. The brief emphasizes the unique role Latinas play as trusted messengers within their communities, often mobilizing family members and neighbors to engage in the electoral process. By understanding how elections impact their communities, Latinas encourage civic participation and amplify the voices of low-propensity voters. As candidates and political campaigns ramp up their last outreach efforts before November, the brief urges them to adopt culturally tailored strategies that speak to Latinas’ policy concerns.

Read the full brief here.