The Latino Victory Fund is a left-of-center political action committee that supports left-of-center Latino candidates in local, state, and national elections. It is one of three Latino-focused political organizations founded by liberal activist actress Eva Longoria, the other two being the Latino Victory Project and the Latino Victory Foundation. ¹ They are collectively known as “Latino Victory.”

According to The Hill, the Latino Victory Fund “has played a role in the election of nearly 20 Hispanic members of Congress.” ²

The Fund endorsed Julian Castro, the former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Obama administration and the only Latino seeking the nomination, for the 2020 Democratic Presidential nod. ³

History

The Latino Victory Fund was founded in May 2014 by actress Eva Longoria and philanthropist Henry Munoz III, who, as of October 2019, is the current National Finance Chairman for the Democratic National Committee. ⁴ It was built out of a pre-existing network of donors who had supported former President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign and included representatives from the AFL-CIO, the National Education Association, and billionaire George Soros. Longoria had served as co-chair for the Obama campaign. ⁵

As it launched, it also announced the endorsement of several federal and state level Hispanic candidates. Of the four candidates who were present at the launch, none were successful in their elections. ⁶

In March 2019, the Victory Fund’s longtime president, Cristobal Alex, stepped down to become an advisor on former Vice President Joe Biden’s 2020 Presidential campaign. He was replaced by Mayra Macias, who had served as the Victory Fund’s vice president and national political director. ⁷ As of May 2023, Nathalie Rayes is the president and CEO of Latino Victory. ⁸

Activities

The Latino Victory Fund has steadily grown since its inception. The group raised $6.1 million in 2018, compared to $4.2 million in 2016. ⁹

In the 2018 midterm elections, it supported 58 candidates, 43 of whom won their elections. ¹⁰

It is most active in the states of Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona, as it has state chapters there that recruit and support local candidates. According to a 2017 interview with The Washington Post, former Fund president Cristobal Alex noted that states such as Florida and New York might also become chaptered states, given their high population of Hispanics. ¹¹

In October 2019, it announced the launch of its “Our Champions” program, which will attempt to assist five Democratic Latino incumbents in retaining their seats in competitive districts. ¹²

Controversy

Nathalie Rayes, Latino Victory’s president and CEO, has received criticism for her residency being in Copenhagen, Denmark despite her work for Latino Victory within the United States. One employee that works for the company, who went unnamed, commented, “How are you supposed to win for Latinos if you’re not even here?” ¹³ At the same time, earlier in May 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Rayes to serve as ambassador to Croatia, although being confirmed would mean she would have to step down from her position with Latino Victory. ¹⁴

Leadership

As of May 2023, Nathalie Rayes is the president and CEO of Latino Victory. Prior to working for Latino Victory, Rayes was Vice President of Public Affairs for financial conglomerate Grupo Salinas and beforehand the Deputy Chief of Staff to former Los Angeles mayor James K. Hahn. She is also a United States Presidential appointee to the Board of Trustees for the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars. ¹⁶

Funding

The Latino Victory Fund’s most recent publicly available filings show total revenues of $3,205,729.19 and total expenses of $2,900,609.47.

1. “Our Work.” Latino Victory. Accessed October 20, 2019. https://latinovictory.us/our-work/.
2. Bernal, Rafael. “Latino Victory President to Step Down.” TheHill, March 5, 2019. https://thehill.com/latino/432674-latino-victory-president-to-step-down.
3. Gamboa, Suzanne. “Latino Victory Fund, a Progressive Group, Endorses Julián Castro.” NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, August 1, 2019. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latino-victory-fund-progressive-group-endorses-juli-n-castro-n1037381.
4. “Eva Longoria Launches Latino Victory Project, Latino PAC.” NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, June 11, 2015. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/eva-longoria-launches-latino-victory-project-latino-pac-n97181.

5. Gold, Matea. “Latino Donors Set Sights on GOP Lawmakers Who Oppose Immigration Overhaul.” The Washington Post. WP Company, October 27, 2013. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/latino-donors-set-sights-on-gop-lawmakers-who-oppose-immigration-overhaul/2013/10/27/a7961128-3d93-11e3-b6a9-da62c264f40e_story.html.
6. “Eva Longoria Launches Latino Victory Project, Latino PAC.” NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, June 11, 2015. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/eva-longoria-launches-latino-victory-project-latino-pac-n97181.
7. Barrón-López, Laura. “Latino Victory Names New Executive Director.” POLITICO, August 13, 2019. https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/13/latino-victory-new-executive-director-1459813.
8. “Nathalie Rayes.” Latino Victory, Accessed May 17, 2023. https://latinovictory.org/staff/nathalie-rayes/
9. Bernal, Rafael. “Latino Victory President to Step Down.” TheHill, March 5, 2019. https://thehill.com/latino/432674-latino-victory-president-to-step-down.
10. Bernal, Rafael. “Progressive Latino Group Staffs up for 2020.” TheHill, January 29, 2019. https://thehill.com/latino/427416-progressive-latino-group-staffs-up-for-2020.
11. O’Keefe, Ed. “Latino Political Group Turning Attention from Washington to State Capitals.” The Washington Post. WP Company, April 13, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/04/13/latino-political-group-turning-attention-from-washington-to-state-capitals/.
12. Bernal, Rafael. “Progressive Latino Group Launches First Incumbent Protection Campaign.” TheHill. The Hill, October 16, 2019. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/466079-progressive-latino-group-launches-first-incumbent-protection-campaign.
13. Egan, Lauren and Eli Stokols. “Someone’s working in Denmark.” Politico West Wing Playbook, May 12, 2023. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2023/05/12/someones-working-in-denmark-00096753
14. Egan, Lauren and Eli Stokols. “Someone’s working in Denmark.” Politico West Wing Playbook, May 12, 2023. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2023/05/12/someones-working-in-denmark-00096753

16. The previous executive director of the Latino Victory Fund was Mayra Macias. Prior to working for the Latino Victory Fund, she was a field organizer for former President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign and an outreach director for the Florida Democratic Party. ¹⁵Barrón-López, Laura. “Latino Victory Names New Executive Director.” POLITICO, August 13, 2019. https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/13/latino-victory-new-executive-director-1459813.