Press Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
With about 250,000 registered Latino voters in the state and a U.S. Senate race polling within two points, Latino turnout will play a significant role in the 2026 midterms
Event photos here
PONTIAC, MI – Hispanic Federation (HF) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) joined Centro Multicultural La Familia today to launch a nonpartisan canvassing effort to reach Latino voters in Pontiac. The event marked a key moment in a statewide effort to reach 100,000 voters before the 2026 midterms.
After the launch event at Centro Multicultural La Familia, a trusted community organization based in Pontiac, canvassers went door to door to talk with residents about the importance of voting in this election.
Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat is one of the closest races in the country, with recent polls showing a one- to two-point gap. The state’s last Senate race was decided by about 19,000 votes. With about 250,000 registered Latino voters in Michigan, Latino turnout could be a significant factor in the 2026 midterms.
“Civic engagement starts with trust and that trust is built over consistent engagement beyond election day,” said Roberto Valdez Jr., Midwest Regional Director of Hispanic Federation. ““Meaningful engagement with Latino voters cannot begin and end with election season. It requires a sustained commitment to listening to our communities, understanding their concerns, and ensuring their voices help shape the decisions that affect their lives. We are proud to partner with Centro Multicultural La Familia. They have invested the time, resources, and people power necessary to build trust and foster lasting relationships with our communities. By working alongside trusted partners, we can ensure that Latino voters have beneficial, nonpartisan information they need to make their voices heard in this critical moment—and understand that the stakes of these elections extend far beyond November 3rd.”
The Latino electorate has already shown its potential to shape outcomes in Michigan. About 177,000 Latino voters cast ballots in a recent Michigan election, more than nine times the margin in the state’s 2024 Senate race. Latino turnout in Michigan’s August 2026 primary also rose by more than 10% over the 2022 midterm primary.
“The federal government is meant to help every person in this country achieve their American Dream,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “Instead, masked agents with unchecked power are profiling, brutalizing and abducting Latino families and even killing people. Instead of solving real problems like the cost of gas, groceries, housing, and healthcare, the administration is casting a dragnet over their lives. Latinos have a chance to be the difference during this election and all elections moving forward. A better future is within our reach—but only if we vote, get out the vote and protect the vote.”
“At Centro Multicultural La Familia, we are committed to making sure the Latinx community is represented and reflected in the decisions that shape their lives. That starts with access to information and language justice. No one should be left out of the voting process because they lack information or face a language barrier. For more than 30 years, we have built trust and strong relationships in Pontiac. We know the power of local action and what our community can accomplish when people have the support they need. The Latinx community is diverse, with different experiences, needs, and priorities. We are not a single-issue community, and our voices deserve to be heard. When our community is informed and engaged, our voices become harder to ignore,” said Andrea Olmos, Community Center Coordinator at Centro Multicultural La Familia.
Today’s canvass is part of Hispanic Federation’s broader nonpartisan effort to reach two million Latino voters across the country. Through its civic engagement initiative, La Voz de Mi Gente, HF supports trusted community-based organizations in year-round outreach, including canvassing, voter registration, phone banking, text messaging, and civic education. HF works with more than 100 partner organizations across the Midwest.
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About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized, and immigrant Latine. With programs in 43 states and territories, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
