The Latino Victory Fund, a "super" political action committee (PAC), named three Latinos, all affiliated with the Democratic Party, as honorary co-chairs to further boost Latino voter engagement.

With a U.S. Latino turning 18 years old every 30 seconds, voter outreach organizations have been prepping voter registration efforts, especially as presidential candidates have been questioned on anti-Latino and anti-immigrant comments. To further push its voter outreach, the Latino Victory Fund named New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, as its first honorary co-chairs.

According to the Latino Victory Fund, which serves as the political arm of the Latino Victory Project, the honorary co-chairs "work to extend the reach of the organization while shaping the course of future elections. The Latino leaders who make up this committee are respected and valued members of the community devoted to increasing political power of Latinos across the country."

In a statement released by Latino Victory Fund President Cristóbal Alex, while recognizing that Latinos comprise 17 percent of the overall U.S. population, he acknowledged that Latinos only represent 1 percent of all elected officials. Alex said the organization is excited to have Castro, Mark-Viverito and Villaraigosa help increase the number of Latino elected officials as they have been "at the forefront in empowering and fighting for the Hispanic community, and have led the charge on supporting issues that are important to our families."

Last March, Mark-Viverito spoke to Latin Post for its "Turnout" series, and, even then, spoke about the Latino Victory Project's outreach efforts. Sharing her thoughts about the Latino voter turnout during the 2014 midterm elections and looking ahead, Mark-Viverito said the Latino Victory Project "is trying to activate the Latino base and get people mobilized and energized to be more active in the upcoming elections, because we're going to be the decisive vote if we get out and then we vote. We need to make sure that voice is heard because that's going to make sure that next president is responsive to our community in a better way."

The NYC council speaker also echoed the Latino Victory Project's mission of encouraging Latinos to run for elected offices, from municipal, state and federal levels.

"We also want to make sure we are motivating Latinos to also consider to run for office because that's the way that we also change policies ... when we have our views and our perspectives in decision-making power and decision-making roles. I'm interested in doing that here in New York City, to work and identify candidates," Mark-Viverito said in March.

Following the Latino Victory Fund's latest announcement on Monday, Mark-Viverito reiterated the need to have Latinos represented at all levels of government to advocate policies the community has been vocal about, including climate change and immigration and criminal justice reforms.

Castro, in a statement, said, "There is no right more fundamental than the right to vote. Assuring that government, at every level, is more representative of its people is something we should always aspire to as a nation. I am proud to be part of Latino Victory Fund's effort to increase Latino representation across all levels of government."

Longoria and Henry R. Muñoz III are the co-founders of the Latino Victory Project, which regards itself as a nonpartisan organization shaping public policy and partnering with organizations to "reflect the growing influence of the Latino community."

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