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Political Party/527

Latino Victory Fund

Website:

latinovictory.us/
Location:

Washington, DC, United States
Tax ID:

47-1137359
Type:

Super PAC
Formation:

2014
President and CEO:

Katharine Pichardo-Erskine
Budget (2023):

Revenues: $1,851,247.68
Expenses: $1,850,300.61
Cash on hand: $770,609.28

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The Latino Victory Fund is a left-of-center political action committee that supports left-of-center Latino candidates in local, state, and national elections. It is one of three Latino-focused political organizations founded by liberal activist actress Eva Longoria, the other two being the Latino Victory Project, a nonprofit advocacy group, and the Latino Victory Foundation, a 501( c)3 affiliate. 1 They are collectively known as Latino Victory. 2

According to The Hill, the Latino Victory Fund “has played a role in the election of nearly 20 Hispanic members of Congress.” 3

The Fund endorsed Julian Castro, the former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Obama administration and the only Latino seeking the nomination, for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. 4 After Castro dropped out, the group endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden. 5

History

The Latino Victory Fund was founded in May 2014 by actress Eva Longoria and philanthropist Henry Munoz III, who has been the National Finance Chairman for the Democratic National Committee. 6 It was built out of a pre-existing network of donors who had supported former President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign and included representatives from the AFL-CIO, the National Education Association, and billionaire George Soros. Longoria had served as co-chair for the Obama campaign. 7

As it launched, it also announced the endorsement of several federal and state level Hispanic candidates. Of the four candidates who were present at the launch, none were successful in their elections. 6

In March 2019, the Victory Fund’s longtime president, Cristobal Alex, stepped down to become an advisor on former Vice President Joe Biden’s 2020 Presidential campaign. He was replaced by Mayra Macias, who had served as the Victory Fund’s vice president and national political director. 8

Activities

The Latino Victory Fund has steadily grown since its inception. The group raised $6.1 million in 2018, compared to $4.2 million in 2016. 3

In the 2018 midterm elections, it supported 58 candidates, 43 of whom won their elections. 9

It is most active in the states of Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona, as it has state chapters there that recruit and support local candidates. According to a 2017 interview with The Washington Post, former Fund president Cristobal Alex noted that states such as Florida and New York might also become chaptered states, given their high population of Hispanics. 10

In October 2017, the Latino Victory Fund endorsed Randy Bryce (D-WI) who ran against then-U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI). Bryce had Mexican roots. Democrats believed that Bryce could possibly pull off the upset in the district due to a decline in Ryan’s popularity and then-President Donald Trump’s unpopularity. 11

In March 2018, former Vice President Joe Biden attended a fundraiser for Latino Victory Fund in Florida. Biden used the fundraiser as an opportunity to meet Latino leaders in expectation of a presidential campaign in 2020. 12

In September 2018, the Victory Fund attempted to recruit then-U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) to run in the 2020 special election for the U.S. Senate seat held by U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), who died in office. Gallego decided not to run for the seat that year. 13

In October 2019, it announced the launch of its “Our Champions” program, which will attempt to assist five Democratic Latino incumbents in retaining their seats in competitive districts. 14

In February 2020, the Victory Fund endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president before a two-week stretch of states where many Latinos would cast their vote. The group cited Biden’s experience in government as the reason for their endorsement. 5

In March 2020, the Victory Fund urged Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to pick a Latino running mate. The group suggested New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D), U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX), and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY). 15

In April 2020, the Victory Fund launched “Latinos con Biden,” a digital campaign coordinated with the Joe Biden presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee to build Latino support for Biden. 16

In May 2020, the Victory Fund joined with other left-of-center groups in opposing the candidacy of then-New York City councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. (D) for the U.S. House seat in New York’s 15th U.S. Congressional district. The groups opposed Diaz Sr.’s positions opposing gay marriage, opposing LGBT interests, and his pro-life stance on abortion. 17

In May 2020, the Victory Fund endorsed a slate of state legislative Latino candidates in battleground states to increase Latino turnout for the 2020 presidential election. 18

In August 2020, the group began a campaign to urge California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) to select then-California Secretary of State Alex Padilla (D) to replace then-U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) if she became vice president in 2020 and her U.S. Senate seat became vacant. 19

In July 2022, the Victory Fund urged the Democratic National Committee to make Nevada the first presidential primary state a way to win over Latino and other non-white voters. The group criticized proposals to make New Hampshire the first nominating contest for president because it is a less diverse state than Iowa. 20

In March 2024, the group hosted a Path to Victory training for left-of-center Latino candidates, potential candidates, and campaign staff in New York City. The New York Central Labor Council co-sponsored and hosted the two-day training event at its offices. The National Democratic Training Committee (NDTC), Google, and the NYC-based compliance firm of Pitta Bishop DelGiorno conducted the training. The group previously held trainings in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Arizona and planned to expand the trainings nationwide. 21

In March 2024, the Victory Fund endorsed then-U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)’s bid for U.S. Senate. The group hoped that by endorsing Gallego that it would mobilize Latino voters in Arizona, a swing state for the 2024 presidential election. 22

In March 2024, the Victory Fund joined with the AAPI Victory Fund and the Collective PAC in endorsing President Joe Biden for reelection and the three groups pledged to spend a combined $30 million to help reelect him. 23

In July 2024, after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, the Latino Victory Fund’s then-chairman Luis Miranda called Biden’s decision “selfless” and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him on the Democratic ticket. 24

In October 2024, then-chairperson Luis Miranda strongly criticized a joke made about Puerto Rico at a rally for presidential candidate Donald Trump by a comedian. Miranda claimed that it was not the first time former President Trump or people associated with him had insulted Puerto Rico and claimed that the joke would motivate Puerto Ricans to vote against Trump. 25

As of December 2024, the group had supported 450 candidates for public office. 26

Controversy

In September 2015, the Latino Victory Fund hosted a fundraiser for Virginia Assembly candidate Danny Vargas (R). The group expressed regret for hosting the fundraiser claiming that the group did not know that Vargas opposed the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program and that if it knew that, it would not have hosted him. 27

In November 2017, the Victory Fund pulled down an ad attacking Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie (R). The ad featured a white man driving a truck with a Confederate flag and a “Don’t Tread on Me” license plate chasing down ethnic minority kids in a residential neighborhood and then switching to footage of the Charlottesville white nationalist rally at which a rallygoer had run over a counter-protester with a car, apparently implying Gillespie supported it. The group pulled down the ad after a terrorist attack in New York City where an Islamic extremist used a car to run over pedestrians, and several newspapers criticized the ad. 28

Nathalie Rayes, Latino Victory’s former president and CEO, received criticism for her residency being in Copenhagen, Denmark despite her work for Latino Victory within the United States. One employee that works for the company, who went unnamed, commented, “How are you supposed to win for Latinos if you’re not even here?” 29 At the same time, earlier in May 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Rayes to serve as ambassador to Croatia, although being confirmed would mean she would have to step down from her position with Latino Victory. 29

In October 2024, the Victory Fund endorsed Los Angeles City Council member Kevin de Leon (D) for reelection. In 2022, a secretly taped conversation had surfaced of de Leon participating in a conversation with then-Los Angeles City Council president Nury Martinez, then-Council Member Gil Cedillo, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor president Ron Herrera where Martinez made racist remarks that went unchallenged by every other participant, including de Leon. 30

Leadership

Katharine Pichardo-Erskine is the president and CEO of Latino Victory Fund and was appointed to the position in December 2024. 26 She previously worked as the group’s executive director. Before joining the Latino Victory Fund, Pichardo-Erskine was senior vice president at the MirRam Group, a strategic communications firm where she handled governmental and community relations for corporate, non-profit, and labor clients. She also led the firm’s political campaign arm, the Hamilton Campaign Network. She began her political career as the civic education organizer at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund. 31

Cristobal Alex is the chair of the board and was appointed to the position in December 2024, replacing Luis Miranda. 26 Cristobal is the head of the Tusk Strategies DC office and has a leadership role with Tusk Philanthropies. Before joining Tusk Strategies, Cristobal served as a White House Deputy Cabinet Secretary in the administration of President Joe Biden. Before that, he worked on the 2020 presidential campaign of Joe Biden and worked as the founding president of the Victory Fund. Before entering electoral politics, Cristobal worked for George Soros’s Open Society Foundations and the Ford Foundation. 32

Sindy Marisol Benavides worked as the president and CEO of the Victory Fund between December 2023 and December 2024. 26 Before becoming president and CEO, she worked as the executive director of the group. Before joining the Victory Fund, she worked as the chief executive officer for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and before that worked for Voto Latino and the Democratic National Committee. 31

Nathalie Rayes is the former president and CEO of Latino Victory. Prior to working for Latino Victory, Rayes was Vice President of Public Affairs for financial conglomerate Grupo Salinas and beforehand the Deputy Chief of Staff to former Los Angeles mayor James K. Hahn. She is also a United States Presidential appointee to the Board of Trustees for the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars. She left her position in December 2023 after being nominated to be the U.S. Ambassador to Croatia. 31

As of January 2025, among the board members of the group include American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten. 33

Funding

By the end of the 2024 election cycle, the Latino Victory Fund had raised $1,851,247.68, spent $1,850,300.61, and had $770,609.28 in cash on hand. 34

References

  1. “Our Work.” Latino Victory. Accessed October 20, 2019. https://latinovictory.us/our-work/.
  2. About.” Latino Victory. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://latinovictory.org/about/
  3. Bernal, Rafael. “Latino Victory President to Step Down.” TheHill, March 5, 2019. https://thehill.com/latino/432674-latino-victory-president-to-step-down.
  4. Gamboa, Suzanne. “Latino Victory Fund, a Progressive Group, Endorses Julián Castro.” NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, August 1, 2019. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latino-victory-fund-progressive-group-endorses-juli-n-castro-n1037381.
  5. Bernal, Rafael. “Biden Scores Key Latino Endorsement.” The Hill, February 21, 2020. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/484018-biden-scores-key-latino-endorsement/amp/?amp_recirculation=1.
  6. “Eva Longoria Launches Latino Victory Project, Latino PAC.” NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, June 11, 2015. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/eva-longoria-launches-latino-victory-project-latino-pac-n97181.
  7. Gold, Matea. “Latino Donors Set Sights on GOP Lawmakers Who Oppose Immigration Overhaul.” The Washington Post. WP Company, October 27, 2013. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/latino-donors-set-sights-on-gop-lawmakers-who-oppose-immigration-overhaul/2013/10/27/a7961128-3d93-11e3-b6a9-da62c264f40e_story.html.
  8. Barrón-López, Laura. “Latino Victory Names New Executive Director.” POLITICO, August 13, 2019. https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/13/latino-victory-new-executive-director-1459813.
  9. Bernal, Rafael. “Progressive Latino Group Staffs up for 2020.” TheHill, January 29, 2019. https://thehill.com/latino/427416-progressive-latino-group-staffs-up-for-2020.
  10. O’Keefe, Ed. “Latino Political Group Turning Attention from Washington to State Capitals.” The Washington Post. WP Company, April 13, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/04/13/latino-political-group-turning-attention-from-washington-to-state-capitals/.
  11. Peinado, Fernando. “Exclusive: Latino Group Backs Paul Ryan’s Wisconsin Challenger with Mexican Roots.” Univision, October 4, 2017. https://www.univision.com/univision-news/politics/exclusive-latino-group-backs-paul-ryans-wisconsin-challenger-with-mexican-roots.
  12. Merica, Dan. “Biden to Headline Fundraiser with Latino Leaders in Miami .” CNN, March 20, 2018. https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/20/politics/biden-miami-fundraiser/index.html.
  13. Arkin, James. “Latino Victory Fund Launches Effort to Draft Gallego for Arizona Senate in 2020.” Politico, September 13, 2018. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/13/gallego-arizona-senate-2020-786127.
  14. Bernal, Rafael. “Progressive Latino Group Launches First Incumbent Protection Campaign.” TheHill. The Hill, October 16, 2019. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/466079-progressive-latino-group-launches-first-incumbent-protection-campaign.
  15. Gamboa, Suzanne. “Joe Biden Vowed to Pick a Woman for Vice President. Why Not a Latina?” NBCNews, March 24, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1165311.
  16. Bernal, Rafael. “Exclusive: Top Hispanic Group Launches ‘Latinos Con Biden.’” The Hill, April 16, 2020. https://thehill.com/latino/493104-exclusive-top-hispanic-group-launches-latinos-con-biden/amp/.
  17.  “Coalition of Progressive Groups Slam Rubén Díaz Sr. for His Anti-Abortion, Anti-LGBTQ Record.” LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, May 15, 2020. https://victoryfund.org/news/coalition-of-progressive-groups-slam-ruben-diaz-sr-for-his-anti-abortion-anti-lgbtq-record/.
  18. Gamboa, Suzanne. “Latino Group Backs Democrats Who Could Make History, Boost Hispanic Voter Turnout.” NBCNews, May 29, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1216841.
  19. Barron-Lopez, Laura. “Latino Victory Backs Alex Padilla for Possible Appointment to Harris’ Senate Seat .” Politico, August 26, 2020. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/26/alex-padilla-latino-victory-kamala-harris-402034.
  20. McCammond, Alexi. “Nevada’s 2024 Primary Bid Gets Big Boost from Latino, AAPI Groups.” Axios, July 28, 2024. https://www.axios.com/2022/07/28/nevada-primary-2024.
  21. “Emerging New York City Latino Leaders Trained on Running for Office by National Latino Group.” Latino Victory, March 28, 2024. https://latinovictory.org/emerging-new-york-city-latino-leaders-trained-on-running-for-office-by-national-latino-group/.
  22. Bernal, Rafael. “Gallego Gets Latino Victory Endorsement in Arizona Senate Bid.” The Hill, March 14, 2024. https://thehill.com/latino/4530130-gallego-latino-victory-arizona-senate-sinema-lake/amp/.
  23. Samuels, Brett. “PACS to Announce $30 Million Commitment to Mobilizing Minority Voters for Biden.” The Hill, March 9, 2024. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4520250-pacs-to-announce-30m-commitment-to-mobilizing-minority-voters-biden/amp/.
  24. Alfonseca, Kiara. “Major Asian, Black, Latino Groups Come out in Support of a Harris Presidency.” ABC News, July 23, 2024. https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/major-asian-black-latino-groups-support-harris-presidency/story?id=112162151.
  25. “Latino Political Strategist Responds to Puerto Rico Jokes at Trump MSG Rally.” ABC News, October 29, 2024. https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/latino-political-strategist-responds-puerto-rico-jokes-trump/story?id=115215759.
  26. Bernal, Rafael. “Latino Victory Names New Leadership Team.” The Hill, December 18, 2024. https://thehill.com/latino/5046324-latino-victory-fund-foundation-leadership/amp/.
  27. Gamboa, Suzanne. “Democrat-Founded Latino Group Regrets Hosting Fundraiser for Republican.” NBCNews, September 15, 2015. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna426996.
  28. Watson, Kathryn. “Anti-Gillespie Ad of Truck Chasing Kids Pulled after New York City Terrorist Attack.” CBS News, November 1, 2017. https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/anti-gillespie-ad-of-truck-chasing-kids-pulled-after-new-york-city-terrorist-attack/.
  29. Egan, Lauren and Eli Stokols. “Someone’s working in Denmark.” Politico West Wing Playbook, May 12, 2023. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2023/05/12/someones-working-in-denmark-00096753
  30. Sheeler, Andrew. “Embattled Former California Lawmaker Gets Big Endorsement in City Council Reelection Bid.” Sacramento Bee, October 22, 2024. https://amp.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article294301369.html.
  31. “Latino Victory Project Announces New Leadership Team with Focus on Deepening Organization’s Impact.” Latino Victory, December 4, 2023. https://latinovictory.org/latino-victory-project-announces-new-leadership-team-with-focus-on-deepening-organizations-impact/.
  32. “Cristóbal Alex.” Tusk Strategies. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://tuskstrategies.com/people/cristobal-alex/.
  33. “Randi Weingarten.” Latino Victory. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://latinovictory.org/staff/randi-weingarten/.
  34. “Latino Victory Fund – Committee Overview.” FEC. Accessed January 13, 2025. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00562777/.
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Latino Victory Fund


Washington, DC
United States