Hispanic activist urges Dems to step up outreach in crucial swing states: 'Listen to Latino voices'

Although Democrats enjoyed some major victories on Election Night 2023 — from reelecting Governor Andy Beshear in deep red Kentucky to recapturing both chambers of the Virginia State Legislature — many party strategists and organizers are worried about 2024. Some polls are showing GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump ahead of President Joe Biden in hypothetical matchups, and Sen. Joe Manchin's (D-West Virginia) decision not to seek reelection could make it tougher for Democrats to keep their U.S. Senate majority.

Some polls are even showing Republicans gaining support among Latinos — a subject that Pennsylvania-based Latino activist Rafael Álvarez Febo addresses in an op-ed published by the Philadelphia Inquirer on November 24.

Febo, who served as executive director of Gov. Tom Wolf's LGBTQ commission and is now vice president of community development for the Philadelphia-based Latino organization Esperanza, has some advice for fellow Democrats: aggressively step up your Latino outreach.

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Febo calls for Democrats to work on Latino voter turnout not only in Philadelphia, but around the U.S.

"The Democratic Party and the progressive wing have been losing ground with working-class and Latino voters locally, and national patterns show a similar trend," Febo laments. "In Philly and across the country, Democrats have prioritized super voters and engaged individuals — who tend to skew white and highly educated — again leaving a gap in representation for a growing Latino population."

Febo asks fellow Democrats, "Will you listen to Latino voices calling out for their fair share, or will you continue to ignore us? Esperamos su respuesta."

In Spanish, "esperamos su respuesta" means "we await your answer."

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Febo emphasizes that Latino voters are crucial for Democrats in key swing states like Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania will play a critical role in next year's presidential election," the activist notes, "and helping protect democracy from the Republicans' likely nominee will require reversing Philadelphia's declining turnout trends by engaging and empowering the city's diverse communities."

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Read Rafael Álvarez Febo's full Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed at this link (subscription required).