The former finance chairman for the Democratic National Committee is heading a new effort to boost Latino voter turnout in the 2020 presidential election, The Hill reported.
Henry Muñoz III will be targeting Latino donors to help mobilize turnout from a key demographic whose support for Democrats has been softer than expected in recent elections, the news outlet reported.
"It's not going to be good enough this time around to wait until a few months before the election to reach out to the Latino community," Muñoz told The Hill. "We have an incredible opportunity to grow our support, but we can't treat it like just a fundraising or get-out-the-vote opportunity, we need programs that make us an integral part of the everyday lives of Latinos."
He is taking on the effort after stepping down from the DNC after more than six years as finance chair — raising more than $600 million for Democrats during his tenure, The Hill reported.
According to The Hill, Muñoz is returning in an advisory capacity to the Latino Victory Project, which he founded with actress Eva Longoria in 2014, The Hill reported. DNC chair Tom Perez has also asked him to stay on in an emeritus role and as a DNC member-at-large, with "broad responsibilities for the design of Latino engagement and fundraising toward the 2020 election cycle."
"Donors are excited and motivated about what's coming next," Muñoz told The Hill.
"We have a presidential slate that is browner, blacker, more female and more gay than ever before," Muñoz told The Hill. "The donors want a race and there's an unprecedented amount of excitement to invest in the next election cycle."
"It's important for no one to ever take this [Latino] community for granted," Muñoz added. "People make a mistake thinking that if they just put Spanish language ads up on the radio that they're communicating effectively to this very diverse population of people that are different from place to place."
Muñoz said he intends to ensure Latinos are registered to vote and "nobody takes us for granted."
"In 2020, it's going to be very clear who has our best interests at heart," he told The Hill. "Donors and activists are really enjoying this moment with 22 people on the Democratic side talking to them, but it's important to remind them that they need to respect this community."