National Latino advocacy organization visits Omaha, announces endorsements

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State Sen. Tony Vargas, center, poses for a photo with former and current national and local LULAC representatives as well as city representatives at a press conference in South Omaha on Wed. Oct. 23, 2024. (Photo by Kassidy Arena/Nebraska Public Media News)
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By Kassidy Arena , Senior Reporter and Arthur Jones , Multimedia Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media News

The president and two former presidents of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) visited Omaha to encourage Latino voters to head to their polling places.

LULAC, one of the oldest Latino advocacy organizations in the country, and its representatives held a press conference to do just that and to make another announcement.

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A few months ago, the organization’s PAC Adelante announced its first-ever endorsement for presidential candidate Kamala Harris. It also announced a second endorsement for State Sen. Tony Vargas in the congressional race

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Tony Vargas, center, shakes hands with former national LULAC presidents Hector Flores, left, and Domingo Garcia. (Photo by Kassidy Arena/Nebraska Public Media News)

It’s the first time three national LULAC presidents have made the trip to Nebraska, more specifically to Congressional District 2. This district has received national attention for its divisiveness–and LULAC of Nebraska president and chief of staff Juan Carlos Garcia said Latino voters could have a wide impact on both its local and national outcomes.

“The Latino vote is key in this election,” he said. “Experts are mentioning that South Omaha can make the decision right? And it’s a big deal. It’s a really big deal because it can sway Congress one way or the other.”

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Garcia spoke about the attention Nebraska is getting from national LULAC.

“It opens the door to LULAC of Nebraska, growing a lot more and being there as a voice for the people, right? It’s a cornerstone for the Latino population to grow in leadership,” he said.

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He added one of the biggest obstacles in getting more civic participation from Latinos in the state is misinformation and misunderstanding. It’s the first general election in which Nebraska’s voter ID law is in effect, which Garcia said has confused some voters.

“It brings back bad memories to some of them from their original countries, so it’s a fear factor,” he explained.

LULAC of Nebraska has been working to advocate for Latino voters in understanding how to register and vote in the state, as well as participate in civic engagement through education and workforce advocacy. The population of Latino voters in the state has continued to grow and is the focus of regional demographers.

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“You have to go out and vote,” Garcia said. “You have to vote and not just vote, take your neighbors, take your friends. If they don’t have transportation, help out with the ride. Pay for the Uber. Whatever it takes. Get people out to the polls.”

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