America Ferrera, Chloe Bridges, and Xochitl Gomez Talk About The Importance of The Latino Vote

“We are powerful. We’re the CEOs of our households. We make decisions about the American economy every single day, and that’s the message that we are not getting enough of,” America Ferrera told MSNBC’s “American Voices.” “And we can all play a role in changing the way this incredibly important part of the American electorate engages in democracy because, without them, our democracy isn’t functioning.” 

The importance of the Latino vote

On October 8, the actress, director, producer, and Poderistas founder America Ferrera, alongside actresses Chloe Bridges and Xochitl Gomez, spoke with Alicia Menendez about the importance of the Latino vote ahead of the midterm elections. 

The conversation started with Menendez asking about the division of the Latino vote. Ferrera told her that “the Latino vote is not a monolith.” She pointed out that a way to get to the Latino community is by investing in them and by listening to their stories. “Until culture and storytelling about who we are and what our worth begins to change, you’re fighting an uphill battle,” she told Menendez. She also pointed out how politicians should engage with the Latino community’s “three-month window to your election.”

What’s at stake during the midterm elections

The public figures also talked about the impact that these upcoming elections will have on future generations. Ferrera told Menendez: “The stakes of whether our kids feel safe sitting in their classrooms. Whether you know people can migrate with dignity. You know whether women have a right to choose what happens to their bodies. I mean, pick your issue, you know whether your kids get to learn about their own history in their classrooms. There is so much at stake and it impacts us and our children and future generations.”

They also talked about the hesitation that Latinas have about voting – and how they shouldn’t feel that way. Bridges said: “I think a part of the issue is, you know, people feel like, ‘Oh. I’m not educated enough on the issues,’ or, ‘Oh. My voice doesn’t matter,’ or, ‘Oh. You know, I’m just one person.’ And we just can’t have that attitude anymore, so if we could just, you know, let people know that ‘Your voice does matter, and we want you out there.’ We need you out there. And that’s how we get democracy going. That’s the whole point.”

Point blank: there’s so much at stake in these upcoming midterm elections. We’re less than a month away – so if you can vote, don’t shy away from making your voice heard. 

Watch the full video of the conversation with MSNBC’s “American Voices” on their website.