Latino Victory Fund, a political action committee that backs progressives Latinos running for office, announced Thursday they were endorsing Brownsville attorney Rochelle Garza in her bid for Texas attorney general.
Garza is facing civil rights attorney Lee Merritt and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski in a three way contest for the Democratic nomination.
A former staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, Garza is best known for fighting a major reproductive rights case in front of the Supreme Court.
In a prepared statement, Latino Victory Fund President Nathalie Rayes said, “Rochelle Garza has been an effective, steadfast advocate for Texas’ working and immigrant families and has fought for civil rights to help create a Texas government that serves the people.”
“As an attorney general, she will defend Texans from attacks on civil and human rights by advocating for health care access, fighting oppressive voter laws that restrict access to the ballot for the Latino community, and protecting reproductive rights for Texans,” Rayes said. “Rochelle has fought injustice and won, and coupled with her unflinching dedication to equity and inclusion in Texas laws, she’s poised to become a formidable voice for Texans. Latino Victory is proud to endorse Rochelle Garza in her historic bid for Texas attorney general.”
In past years, Latino Victory Fund has backed other Texas candidates including Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, and Reps. Slyvia Garcia and Veronica Escobar.
In 2020, the group spent almost half a million dollars in supporting Candace Valenzuela, a Dallas area school board member that came within one percentage point of defeating Rep. Beth Van Duyne in Texas’ 24th Congressional District.
A Univision poll of registered voters shared along with the endorsement shows Garza with a lead among Hispanic voters and in tight competition with other candidates among non-Hispanic voters.
The deadline for the state’s first campaign finance report of the cycle occurred this week, offering a look at who has raised the most in the crowded race for attorney general:
Rochelle Garza
Total Political Contributions: $119,915.55
Cash On Hand: $89,318.00
Joe Jaworski
Total Political Contributions: $453,184.79
Cash On Hand: $158,301.91
Lee Merritt
Total Political Contributions: $404,615.28
Cash On Hand: $30,523.04
Fernando covers Texas politics and government at the Texas Signal. Before joining the Signal, Fernando spent two years at the Houston Chronicle and previously interned at Houston’s NPR station News 88.7. He is a graduate of the University of Houston, Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, and enjoys reading, highlighting things, and arguing on social media. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email at fernando@texassignalarchive.com
