The 95-year-old League of United Latin American Citizens endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, breaking with its past practice of not formally endorsing any political candidate.
The historic endorsement of the Democratic presidential ticket is a first for the civil rights group, which was founded in 1929 to protect the rights of Mexican-Americans. LULAC leaders first announced the endorsement to NBC News and plan to join Harris and Walz at a rally in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The endorsement was made through his political action committee, LULAC Adelante PAC. LULAC is a nonprofit organization with a social welfare arm and cannot make political contributions under federal tax law.
“We are proud to support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because of the real issues facing Latino communities and all Americans; we can trust them to do what is right for our community and our country,” said Domingo Garcia, LULAC Adelante PAC Chair and LULAC Past President.
Not all members of LULAC were or are Democrats. LULAC has been considering forming a PAC for several years, the organization said. LULAC CEO Juan Proaño said the prospect of another Donald Trump presidency created an urgency to do so now.
“The politics of hatred and scapegoating of Latinos and immigrants must stop,” Garcia said in a statement.
“Latin Americans understand how much is at stake in this election, not just for our society, but for our democracy,” he said.
LULAC said its grassroots-based councils will boost support for the Democratic ticket in key battleground states. LULAC has 535 councils and 140,000 members, 86% of whom are registered voters, LULAC said.
Proaño said that the organization has invited President Joe Biden and Trump to the annual conference to be held in July this year. The Trump campaign never responded. Biden, then the presumptive Democratic nominee, was unable to attend, but Harris sent a video message.
“Communication and communication with Harris since he was nominated has been impressive. I received three phone calls within a week [from the campaign] About the Latino community,” Proaño said.
Biden won a majority of Latino voters in 2020, but polls showed declining support this year.
Historically, LULAC has not endorsed candidates, but its members have occasionally exchanged views on political contests.
In 1956, LULAC President Felix Tijerina personally endorsed the Eisenhower-Nixon ticket. LULAC members were active in Viva Kennedy clubs in the 1960s, and members supported local Mexican American candidates such as El Paso Mayor Raymond Telles.
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