EXCLUSIVE — A prominent pro-Latino political organization is endorsing an incumbent House Republican, Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), and a onetime GOP New Mexico congresswoman, Yvette Herrell, before the 2024 general elections as it underscores the importance of the community ahead of November.
LIBRE Initiative Action, a center-right political organization connected to Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity Action that tries to support the Latino and Hispanic community, announced its endorsements Thursday. Kim and Herrell will now be helped by the group’s resources with digital ads, direct mail, and telephone banking, in addition to conservative activists and grassroots volunteers knocking on Latino voters’s doors to encourage them to cast ballots in Kim and Herrell’s congressional districts.
“The Latino vote is positioned to play a pivotal role in deciding the future of key races across the nation,” LIBRE Initiative Action senior adviser Sandra Benitez told the Washington Examiner.
“Latinos are eager for leadership that is principled and dedicated to driving solutions that empower our community and all Americans,” Benitez said. “These candidates have fought to elevate policies that help create economic growth and opportunity, all while limiting the increased role of big government. LIBRE Action is ready to mobilize the full strength of our grassroots capabilities in support of these candidates.”
Herrell, the first Republican Native American woman elected to Congress, conceded New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes part of Albuquerque, in 2022 to Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), a former Las Cruces city councilor, after serving only one term on Capitol Hill. She lost that contest in the country’s only majority Latino state by 1,350 votes. She is now seeking to retake her former seat from Vasquez in what is her fourth congressional run.
Kim, one of the nation’s first three Korean American woman lawmakers, is hoping to hold on to her now-safer seat of California’s 40th District, which includes northern Orange County and an expanding Latino community.
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LIBRE Initiative Action and Americans for Prosperity Action’s involvement in this election cycle coincides with a fierce contest for control of the House. The Cook Political Report has identified 23 toss-up seats, including Herrell’s, though it continues to lean Democratic.
LIBRE Initiative Action endorsed Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) and several House Republican candidates in Texas last year.
