America Ferrera Urges Latino Voter Mobilization for Upcoming Election

America Ferrera, an actress renowned for her roles in television shows such as “Ugly Betty” and “Superstore,” and the blockbuster film “Barbie,” visited North Philadelphia on Monday to galvanize Latino voters for the upcoming presidential election. Ferrera, who is also a high-profile activist, spoke at HACE, a community development organization in Fairhill, a predominantly Latino neighborhood, addressing a room filled mainly with Latinas.

Ferrera emphasized the impact Latino voters could have on the election’s outcome. “This November, Latinas and Latinos can be, and I hope will be, the margin of victory,” she stated, drawing from her own background as a Los Angeles native with Honduran parents. According to studies, the proportion of eligible Latino voters in the United States has doubled since 2000.

While a majority of Latinos traditionally support the Democratic Party, their voting patterns have been gradually diversifying. During the 2020 presidential election, former President Donald Trump actively pursued the Latino electorate in key states, including Pennsylvania, where more than 600,000 eligible Latino voters reside. The previous election in Pennsylvania was decided by a slim margin of approximately 82,000 votes.

Ferrera praised Vice President Kamala Harris, describing her as a defender of the middle class and vulnerable groups such as homeowners facing foreclosure, workers threatened by wage theft, and DACA Dreamers dealing with healthcare challenges. “She [Harris] is someone who will bring us closer to realizing our shared vision of America,” Ferrera remarked.

Philadelphia City Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, representing Fairhill, joined Ferrera, criticizing Trump’s threats to dismantle the Department of Education. “To get rid of the Department of Education completely will have a huge negative impact on communities like this one,” Lozada warned, highlighting the struggles of underperforming schools in the area.

The Latino community in Fairhill, primarily Puerto Rican, generally leans Democratic. However, Latino voters from other countries are seen as potentially open to Republican appeals. While Philadelphia tends to vote heavily Democratic, poorer neighborhoods within the city have shown increasing Republican support.

Ferrera has been a supporter of Harris for over a decade, since her tenure as California’s Attorney General. Recalling a past event she organized, Ferrera quoted Harris saying, “The fight for social justice is not a marathon. It is a relay race. The baton is in our hands.”

Additionally, the Voto Latino Foundation has launched a $5 million initiative called “Vota Con Ganas” to encourage Latino voter participation. The campaign, featuring celebrities like Wilmer Valderrama and Rosario Dawson, includes voter registration events and multimedia outreach, targeting the growing Latino electorate, which is expected to make up 14.7% of all eligible voters in the next presidential election.

Rosario Dawson emphasized the potential influence of young Latino voters, stating, “We have the power to decide. We could literally change the tide.”