Koch-affiliated Latino group releases 2024 endorsements

The Libre Initiative, an advocacy group affiliated with mega-donor Charles Koch’s political network, will announce Monday four endorsements in key congressional races.

Libre is endorsing Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas) and Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) for reelection and Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sam Brown, who is challenging Sen. Jacky Rosen (D).

Those four Republicans are all running in jurisdictions where the Latino vote will play a key role, and which could impact the results of the presidential race.

“As we all know, the Latino vote will play a crucial role in shaping the nation’s political landscape,” said Jose Mallea, senior adviser to the Libre Initiative Action, the organization’s political wing.

“Elected officials and candidates running for office need to know that Latinos across the country are eager for solutions that grow the economy, expand opportunity, and empower them and their families.”

The four endorsements are strategic and could swing majorities in either chamber of Congress.

“Our community, and our nation, needs strong principled policy champions on Capitol Hill leading by example. That is why we are endorsing and mobilizing our grassroots army of Latino volunteers and voters to support these candidates in these key races,” Mallea said.

Salazar’s second reelection would consolidate Republican control over a south Florida district that was once seen as moving toward Democrats. In a year when Democrats are confident they can recover a House majority, Republicans can’t afford to lose her district.

De La Cruz is in a similar position, though she represents a district exclusively represented by Democrats since its creation in 1903 until she flipped it in 2022.

Though redistricting has made the seat less accessible to Democrats, De La Cruz is all but certain to face a rematch of 2022 against Democrat Michelle Vallejo.

In 2022, De La Cruz bested Vallejo by 9 percentage points, but with different dynamics in a presidential election year, De La Cruz could face a strong challenge.

Ciscomani is also likely to face a 2022 rematch against former state Sen. Kirsten Engel, who lost their first match-up by fewer than 6,000 votes, or 1.5 percentage points.

Mexico-born Ciscomani is seen as a model for a younger, conservative Latino politician, and he has been close to GOP leadership in the House during his first term.

And Brown, a Purple Heart-decorated Afghanistan veteran, is running a statewide race in a heavily-Latino state that Democrats cannot afford to lose, either for the Senate or the presidential race.

“These candidates are committed to fighting for policies that pave the way for economic growth and opportunity — all while limiting the increased role of big government. LIBRE Action is proud to endorse these policy champions and we look forward to mobilizing the full force of our grassroots capabilities in support of these candidates,” Mallea said.

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