Latinas of the Central Valley will decide who represents us in Sacramento and D.C. | Opinion

In March, as we filled out our ballots for the first time, we contemplated the power of our votes as children of immigrant families. Whether it’s at the local, state or federal level, too often it seems that our political system doesn’t care about young Brown women like us.

In a country with over 244 million eligible voters, how much power does the vote of a Brown, young woman really have? As it turns out, a lot.

This election season, we’re learning that our votes have power and they matter — now more than ever. Women in California, specifically Latinas, hold the power to shape the future of our state and our country.

Here’s why: In California, 3.2 million registered voters are Latinas. This means Latinas make up one of every six registered voters in the state. With the balance of the U.S. House of Representatives relying on just four seats, this carries more weight than ever.

And this power is only magnified when considering that two battleground districts are in California’s San Joaquin Valley: CA-13 and CA-22, both Latino-majority districts.

From Sacramento to Bakersfield, Latinas hold even more power: 505,614 of the 2,766,219 voters are Latinas (or one in every five registered voters). These women of the Valley hold the key to deciding who will represent us in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

But this election isn’t about voting for just any candidate. It’s about electing leaders who address the issues affecting Latinas, their families and their loved ones. The days of politicians coasting on party loyalty are over. Latina voters no longer feel at home in either major party, and they haven’t for some time now.

Recent polling by Communities for a New California Action Fund, in partnership with Data For Social Good, reveals that up to 30% of voters in the Central Valley battleground districts are registered as No Party Preference, with nearly a third being Latino. This isn’t just political independence, it’s a political expression that demands authenticity from candidates on both sides of the aisle.

Latina voters want leaders who take the time to listen to them, understand their struggles and offer actual plans and solutions to address issues that matter most to women: jobs and the economy, affordable housing and access to healthcare and reproductive rights. In doing so, candidates will win not just individual votes, but votes from the Latino voting bloc as a whole.

We can already see this on a national level: Following President Joe Biden’s exit and Vice President Kamala Harris’s entrance to the presidential race, polling has shown that Latina Democrats are 14% more likely to support her than they did Biden. Among No Party Preference voters — a third of which are Latino — that number jumps to 26.6%.

Harris’ connection with Latina voters makes it clear that when a candidate listens and takes Latina concerns seriously, support follows. This is a fact all candidates need to take seriously.

In CA-13 and CA-22, local representation isn’t the only thing at stake — it’s the control of Congress. In 2022, these tight races were decided by a total of just over 4,000 votes. And these votes are once again poised to decide the control of the House of Representatives in November.

Latinas understand their power. A recent survey found that 61% of Latina voters in the Central Valley understand the weight of their vote and feel it is “extremely” or “very important” in determining which party controls the House.

With this information laid on the table, the message becomes clear: Latina voters have the power to change the course of our country. It’s time candidates stopped taking them for granted and started earning their votes.