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After a tough primary election ended last month, Maryland Democratic Party leaders vowed unity as they head into the November general election.
The Latino community wants to make sure it鈥檚 not left out of the party.
鈥淎s members of the party, we鈥檙e trying to push the party forward and say, 鈥楲ook, we are no longer comfortable just doing Cinco de Mayo events. We鈥檙e no longer comfortable just to do Hispanic Heritage Month events,鈥欌�� said Del. Ashanti Martinez (D-Prince George鈥檚), who became chair of the Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus this year. 鈥淲e need engagement year-round with our community in a very meaningful way.鈥�
Martinez was one of 50 Latino elected officials, business and community leaders who signed a letter last week to party leaders and Democratic nominees for Congress to ensure Latinos are included in the political process. Their letter, a copy of which was obtained by Maryland Matters, calls on the party to encourage Latinos to register to vote, identify barriers that may hinder Latinos from voting and conduct civic education and leadership development in Latino communities.
鈥淭oo often we have seen lack of inclusion and support for our community, lack of representation of Latinos in positions of leadership and lack of investment in Latino voter outreach,鈥� the letter said. 鈥淟atino leaders across the state need to feel seen and heard by the party and by the candidates the party puts on the ballot.鈥�
Besides Martinez, the letter was also signed by Dels. Gabriel Acevero (D-Montgomery), Joe Vogel (D-Montgomery) and Deni Taveras (D-Prince George鈥檚), all of whom are members of the caucus鈥� executive board. Other signers included Dels. Joseline Pe帽a-Melnyk (D-Prince George鈥檚), chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee, and David Fraser-Hildalgo (D-Montgomery).
Martinez said the caucus has about 90 associate members, who are lawmakers that provide support and 鈥渁llyship鈥� to the caucus.
However, there are no elected Latinos in the state Senate.
There are no Latinos in the state鈥檚 congressional delegation.
The letter recommends that the party should 鈥渉ire Latinos at the top levels of the Maryland Party who are bilingual and culturally aware.鈥�
Baltimore City Councilmember Odette Ramos (D), who signed the letter, said the party should mirror appointments made by Gov. Wes Moore (D). At least four Latinos in his administration have decision-making powers, including Health Secretary Laura Herrera Scott, Human Services Secretary Rafael J. L贸pez, Secretary of Aging Carmel Roques and Yolanda Maria Martinez, special secretary of the Governor鈥檚 Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs.
鈥淎t least the governor recognizes that,鈥� Ramos said Tuesday. 鈥淏ecause our population is growing so quickly, we really need a Cabinet that looks like the state. The party should do the same.鈥�
鈥榃e want to be better鈥�
Democratic Party Chair Ken Ulman, who鈥檚 been in the job for about six months, said that before the letter was sent, party officials met with 鈥渁bout 80%鈥� of the leaders who signed it. He said the letter matches discussions he鈥檚 had with Latino leaders.
One recommendation that could happen in the near future is incorporating 鈥済et out the vote鈥� correspondence on the party鈥檚 social media pages in Spanish. Another request is to invest聽and post information in Spanish a section for new citizens on voter registration eligibility, the process to register, verification of registration and party affiliation.
A recommendation that could take longer is a call to hire Latino party liaisons in each of聽 the state鈥檚 eight congressional districts.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 commit to exactly how we鈥檙e going to do these things and when, but we are absolutely committed to making progress 鈥� to figure this out,鈥� Ulman said. 鈥淲e want to be better. We want to be more effective. We want to be as inclusive as possible.鈥�
Latino leaders interviewed said they support the party, but still want to see some action before the Nov. 5 general election.
The Latino community continues to remain the fastest-growing demographic in Maryland, and accounted for 11.5% of the state鈥檚 population in 2023, according to .
The projects that Latinos will make up nearly 15% of the electorate nationwide in this year鈥檚 general election, but only about 6% of eligible voters in Maryland.
But advocates say the party should not overlook any part of the state鈥檚 Latino population, even those who may not be able to vote now. They can still be voices in the community.
鈥淚 think we need to be talking to everyone in our communities because everyone has value. Whether or not people can vote, they know people who do,鈥� said Kony Serrano Portillo, a councilmember for the town of Edmonston in Prince George鈥檚.
鈥淲e spend a lot of time as a party in the general election trying to get this independent voter. I don鈥檛 see any difference between individuals who would be voting [in the future],鈥� she said. 鈥淲e want them to be included in our party.鈥�
Prince George鈥檚 and Montgomery counties have the highest percentage of Latinos in the state, with , according to the Census Bureau.
Ramos did not endorse a U.S. Senate candidate and declined to say who she voted for in the won by Prince George鈥檚 County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D), who faces former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in the general election.
Ramos said she recently spoke with Alsobrooks to ensure her campaign reaches out to the Latino community.
鈥淚鈥檓 focused on defeating Hogan. Period, end of story,鈥� Ramos said. 鈥淗e would be terrible for Maryland and frankly for the United States. This is the race that everyone will be paying attention to, because it will alter what will happen in the Senate.鈥�
The Alsobrooks campaign agrees.
鈥淭hroughout this campaign, Angela has and will continue to reach out to Latino leaders and community members across the state of Maryland,鈥� Alsobrooks spokesperson Gina Ford said in a statement Thursday. 鈥淪he has built a wide coalition that we will continue to grow because for Angela, this race is about the future of all Marylanders.鈥�
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