In a historic move, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) has announced its endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the upcoming presidential election. This marks the first time in the organization's 92-year history that it has officially endorsed a presidential candidate.

The endorsement was made by LULAC's political arm, the LULAC Adelante PAC, who praised Harris for her commitment to justice, equality, and inclusivity - values that strongly resonate with the Latino community. The announcement comes as Harris prepares to hold rallies in the critical battleground states of Glendale, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada, both of which have significant Latino populations.

Domingo Garcia, the chairman of LULAC Adelante PAC and a former LULAC president, expressed the organization's trust in Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, to address the pressing issues faced by Latino communities across the nation. Members of the PAC's board will join Harris and Walz for the official endorsement announcement ahead of their Nevada rally.

Recent polls have indicated a boost in Democratic excitement, with Harris now holding a 1-point lead nationally over former President Donald Trump. The Harris-Walz campaign aims to capitalize on this momentum and secure Latino votes by releasing the campaign's first ad targeting Latino voters, emphasizing Harris' determination to fight for the community's rights and challenge anti-Latino rhetoric.

Latinos will play a crucial role in the upcoming election, with over 36.2 million eligible to cast their ballots, the highest in electoral history. In order to reach out to Latino voters beyond their endorsement, LULAC plans to leverage their strong grassroots operation in key battleground states, including not only the Southwest states but also those with growing Latino populations such as Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

The endorsement by LULAC serves as a powerful statement against what the organization sees as the politics of hate and scapegoating directed towards Latinos and immigrants. This indirectly takes aim at former President Trump and the Republican party, who have been actively targeting Latino voters in an effort to secure key states.

While Latino voters have historically leaned towards Democratic candidates, the margin of support has varied. In the 2020 election, 61% of Latino voters chose Joe Biden, while 36% voted for Donald Trump, indicating a narrower margin than in the 2016 election between Trump and Hillary Clinton.

As the race for the White House intensifies, Arizona and Nevada, two critical battleground states with significant Latino populations, will likely play pivotal roles in determining the outcome. Recent polls show a tie between Harris and Trump in Arizona, with both candidates garnering 49% support among likely voters. In Nevada, Harris holds a slight lead with 50% support, while Trump trails at 48%.

With LULAC's endorsement, the Harris-Walz campaign hopes to further solidify support among Latino voters and secure the crucial votes needed to secure victory in these pivotal swing states.