NEWS AND OPINION:

A coalition of 15 Hispanic organizations has sent a letter of “deep disappointment” to both Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley and Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison.

“We write to express our deep disappointment with the abysmal outreach Latino voters are reporting by both Democrats and Republicans in 2024. As Election Day approaches, and with both presidential candidates set to address the Latino electorate in separate town halls airing on Univision this month, we call on you to build on those discussions to truly escalate your outreach to Latino voters,” the letter said.

“Just weeks before Election Day, despite the fact that Latino voters stand to play a decisive role in multiple national and state races, more than 48% have consistently reported they have not been contacted at all by any campaign or either party,” it continued.

---

---

“Those numbers are even lower when asked about contact they have received specifically from the parties: 30% report having been contacted by Democrats and 24% by Republicans. And those contact levels were not significantly different in battleground states, as illustrated by an extensive poll of Latino voters released in early September. This lack of attention from both major parties is unacceptable,” the letter said.

It also included findings from a poll revealing 55% of HIspanic adults in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas say they have not been contacted by either Democrats or Republicans.

The trend “isn’t just baffling — it’s inexcusable,” the letter said.

“Latinos are the second largest group of voting-age Americans and largest minority group. When Latinos succeed, so does America. Yet, neither party has adequately communicated how your candidates plan to address our most pressing pocketbook concerns with policies that will meet the unique needs of our communities,” the letter said.

The signers include Patti Tototzintle, president and CEO, Esperanza United; Evelyn DeJesus, national president, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement; Julian Castro, CEO, Latino Community Foundation; Monica Ramírez, co-founder and president, the Latinx House; Amy Hinojosa, president and CEO, MANA, A National Latina Organization; Arturo Vargas, CEO, NALEO Educational Fund; and Kenneth Romero, executive director, National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.

The others are Yanira Cruz, president and CEO, National Hispanic Council on Aging; Lupe M. Rodriguez, executive director, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice; Thomas Savino, CEO, Prospanica; Ignacio Salazar, president and CEO, SER National; Janet Murguia, president and CEO, UnidosUS; Ramiro Cavazos, president and CEO, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Juan Andrade, president, U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute; and María Teresa Kumar, founding president and CEO, Voto Latino.

PRACTICAL, TRAINED AND RICH

Perhaps Elon Musk will hold the title of the world’s first trillionaire. Who knows? Meanwhile, the rest of us have a new concept to ponder when it comes to personal finance.

“America’s new millionaire class: Plumbers and HVAC entrepreneurs. Private equity is pouring money into skilled-trade small businesses; ‘Next thing you know, you’re running an empire.’ Few businesses are as vital to their customers as local plumbing, heating or air conditioning companies. Private equity has taken notice, scooping up home services companies for seven-and eight-figure paydays,” The Wall Street Journal reported.

“The wave of investment is minting a new class of millionaires across the country, one that small business owners say is helping add more shine to working with a toolbelt,” the publication said.

Everyday billionaires are also doing well.

“What a year it’s been for the planet’s billionaires, whose fortunes continue to swell as global stock markets shrug off war, political unrest and lingering inflation. There are now more billionaires than ever: 2,781 in all, 141 more than last year and 26 more than the record set in 2021. They’re richer than ever, worth $14.2 trillion in aggregate, up by $2 trillion from 2023 and $1.1 trillion above the previous record, also set in 2021,” said the annual World’s Billionaires List, published by Forbes.

“Two-thirds of the list’s members are worth more than a year ago; only one-fourth are poorer. Much of the gains come from the top 20, who added a combined $700 billion in wealth since 2023, and from the U.S., which now boasts a record 813 billionaires worth a combined $5.7 trillion. China remains second, with 473 (including Hong Kong) worth $1.7 trillion,” the news organization said.

IVY-COVERED HALLS

“The Kamala Harris presidential campaign texted 70,000 Arizona State University (ASU) students and a total of 150,000 students statewide, urging them to vote for her. Now, students, a professor, and a state representative are demanding answers,” according to the College Fix, a student-written publication.

College Republicans at the university also revealed that the Harris campaign texted students from Arizona schools including the aforementioned ASU, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona.

“If Kamala Harris has access to all of Arizona college students’ phone numbers, what ELSE do they have?” the group stated in a written report, capital letters and all.

“We’re going to be submitting a Freedom of Information Act request very soon to understand how that information was supposedly public,” said Carson Carpenter, president of College Republicans on the campus.

College Republicans at ASU also posted a screenshot of a letter Mr. Carpenter sent to the school, stating the student body is “deeply alarmed” by the texts that appear to use student information, this according to the College Fix.

POLL DU JOUR

• 81% of registered U.S. voters think foreign governments are trying to influence U.S. voters and affect the outcome of the U.S. presidential election.

• 84% of men and 79% of women agree; 84% of Whites, 73% of Blacks and 72% of Hispanics also agree.

• 83% of Republicans, 83% of independents and 79% of Democrats also agree.

• 19% of U.S. voters overall think foreign governments are not trying to influence U.S. voters.

• 16% of men and 21% of women agree; 16% of Whites, 27% of Blacks and 28% of Hispanics also agree.

• 17% of Republicans, 17% of independents and 21% of Democrats also agree.

SOURCE: A CBS News poll of 2,719 registered U.S. voters conducted by interview Oct. 8-11.

• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse.