Putting Their Money Where Their Mouth Is: Latina Political Action Committees

• In Event: Contemporary Latina/é Politics, Participation, and Representation

Abstract

"A record number of Latinas ran for national office as major party candidates in recent years. For example, between 2017 and 2023 the number of Latina candidates for Congress grew by more than 50% and the number of Latinas elected to Congress as voting members doubled from 10 to 20.(Acevedo 2020; Dittmar 2020b, 2022; Krogstad, Flores, Lopez 2018; Sampaio 2018)." What explains this success? Does money account for their electoral victories or are other factors at play? This exploratory research will examine the growing efforts of Latina founded and funded political actions committees. Personal interviews with PAC founders, donors and supported candidates as well as Federal Election Commission reports will be used to document and assess the efforts of Latina-led political action committees’ efforts to raise funds and elect candidates to office.

Authors

• Valerie J. Martinez-Ebers, University of North Texas

• Regina Branton, University of North Carolina Charlotte