Voting X María Teresa Kumar

I launched Voto Latino on my credit card 20 years ago because I realized Latinos were not getting the representation we deserved – and that was leading to laws and policies that either at best ignored us or at worst harmed us. I also realized the Latino community was on pace to become the second-largest voting group and our disproportionately young population would become the decisive factor in several key states. This was clear to us 20 years ago, we didn’t see anyone investing for the long run in Latino civic participation, and no one was doing the work of building the trust and education platform required to register, inform and mobilize. So that’s what we set out to do. Beyond my Voto Latino work, I previously advised President Barack Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, and I currently serve on the National Task Force on Election Crises and the Brookings Institution’s Working Group on Universal Voting. I also sit on several boards and am a political analyst for MSNBC.


We founded Voto Latino because there was a strong need to elevate the voices of the Latino community, which was being largely overlooked in the political process. Despite being the second-largest voting group, we were historically underrepresented and overlooked. There was an urgency to connect the Latino community with resources, information, and networks to ensure Latinos were empowered to participate fully in shaping our country’s future. Our mission at Voto Latino is to educate, register, and mobilize Latino voters so they can influence policies that directly impact their lives. As of the last presidential election, we are the largest voter registration organization focused on people of color, having registered over 1.5 million voters to date. We do this through innovative digital campaigns and culturally relevant programs to help the Latino community fully realize and capitalize on its political power.

Education to me is about empowerment. It’s the key to bridging divides and creating a more diverse, inclusive and fair democratic process. I’ve seen firsthand how lack of access to educational resources and misinformation affects the Latino community's participation in politics. We’re committed to closing this gap to ensure that Latinos have access to the information they need to engage in elections confidently. Through educational programs and initiatives we equip voters with the tools to make informed decisions. Education continues to be the foundation of our work because when people are informed, they can transform the world.

While some reports from earlier in the year suggested a rightward shift among Latino voters, our voter registration data, surveys and polling shows otherwise. Our data along with our on-the-ground efforts clearly demonstrate that Latino voters are at least as progressive and likely to cast a ballot for Democrats as they were in 2020. And, when taking into account the influx of young voters who have aged in since the last presidential election, the final tally may end up showing that the Latino electorate has actually shifted a bit to the left. The majority of Latino voters continue to support progressive policies like immigration reform, healthcare access, economic equality and environmental protections. I always encourage everyone to look to comprehensive, statistically significant data rather than misleading narratives in order to understand these shifts accurately.

I’m feeling hopeful and energized ahead of Election Day – I’ve been in this field for 20 years and I’ve never seen anything like the response Voto Latino experienced when Kamala Harris announced her candidacy. We saw a 221% jump in voter registrations in the days following her announcement. Comparing it to how the community was feeling earlier this year, this jump speaks to how engaged our community can become when there’s a candidate who advocates for the issues Latinos care about. There is now a collective and renewed sense of hope, and it shows how when voters feel a personal connection to a candidate, they are more likely to turn out. This level of engagement, especially among young Latinos, shows how ready our community is to shape the future in a powerful way.

There are a few ways the Marcella community can help before Election Day. It’s important to stay informed and make sure the people around you understand their voting rights. You can do this by sharing resources, especially with younger voters, and encouraging them to register and vote early when possible. You can also volunteer with organizations like Voto Latino or other groups working to register voters and provide resources and voter protection services. Lastly, try to share accurate information across your networks to combat disinformation and help others stay educated and informed.

I was born into a family where my grandmother always has her nails done. She would tell me when I was a kid that if I left the house without earrings or lipstick that I might as well be going out that door naked. So fashion and how we present ourselves to the outside world has literally started in the home, if not in the womb. And so for me style is being able to be comfortable with what you are wearing, making sure that you feel empowered with what you’re wearing and that you are doing it in a way that is true and authentic to yourself. And so in the true honor of my grandmother, I do not leave the house without earrings or without lipstick. And I always want to make sure that I’m wearing something that is comfortable and that is authentic to me.

Оne of the reasons I've enjoyed doing this collaboration with Marcella is that I love clothes and I have to say that I celebrate my mom and my grandmothers through it because they love clothes. I have absolutely inherited that fashion passion. And as we get into the winter and things get a little chilly outside, I love the Brenda Sweater because I can put it on and I could feel cozy and warm at home, but then I could also look fabulous outside because it's bulky and fun and accessible. I also love the Diana Coat. If you haven't had a chance to try that on, it is amazing. And again, you could pair it up with jeans and with the Brenda sweater underneath. Or you could use a nice black dress like I did in the shoot and spice it up. So I love the flexibility of both. But at the end of the day, if you ask me where my happy place is, it's always being comfy. And, boy, do the Brenda Sweater and the Diana Coat deliver.