LOS ANGELES — Mary Wagner recently experienced the harsh reality of living amid wildfires that spread smoke through California and northern Nevada. As she prepared her sons for school in Las Vegas, she stepped outside, only to find the air thick with smoke, aggravating her 13-year-old son’s asthma. “It’s incredibly tough for him to breathe,” she shared, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

This summer, Las Vegas endured intense heat, with temperatures soaring to 115°F (46.11°C) or higher. Wagner understands that climate change is causing hotter days and recurring wildfires, which makes it a vital issue for her as she approaches her first election as a newly minted U.S. citizen. “Realizing how climate change impacts our finances and our health has become a priority for myself and others in my community,” she said, highlighting her roots in Honduras and her journey to citizenship in 2022.

As the November elections near, Latina voters like Wagner have the potential to significantly influence the outcome of the presidential election, as well as several congressional and gubernatorial races. This year, approximately 36.2 million Latinos are eligible to vote—an increase of 4 million compared to four years ago. Notably, Latina voters tend to participate in elections at higher rates than their male counterparts, which positions them as a decisive voting block.

Various organizations are targeting Latino voters with initiatives focusing on climate issues, as it remains a pressing concern among this demographic. Many Latinos express a desire to see candidates advocate for measures that would protect children from the adverse effects of climate change. Polling indicates that women, in particular, are more likely to support Kamala Harris, with a survey revealing that female voters view Harris more positively than males.

The Harris and Trump campaigns diverge significantly in their perspectives on climate change, which is primarily driven by the use of fossil fuels. Harris highlights the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, considered the largest investment in green energy in the U.S., framing climate change as a significant threat that requires urgent attention. Conversely, Trump has previously dismissed climate change as a “hoax,” criticized electric vehicles, and made unfounded claims about renewable energy’s negative impacts.

Recent climate-related disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, have intensified the focus on climate issues in the presidential race. The topic was one of the initial queries posed during the vice presidential debate between Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz. A new study from Yale University reveals that over one-third of eligible voters prioritize global warming in their voting considerations and prefer candidates willing to take action. Additional polling from the Latino Victory Foundation and Hispanic Federation shows that 73% of respondents are likely to cast their votes, with Latinas exhibiting a 25% higher propensity to vote compared to Latino males, as noted by Katharine Pichardo-Erskine, executive director of the Latino Victory Project. This trend aligns with broader data indicating women generally have higher voter turnout rates than men.

“We’re taking care of our neighbors, getting children to school, and fulfilling our responsibilities within our communities,” she emphasized, reiterating that voting is an essential component of that engagement.

To amplify this turnout, the organization has dedicated approximately $2 million to its Vote Like a Madre campaign in Arizona, a bilingual initiative aimed at mobilizing Latina mothers to vote for the sake of their children’s futures concerning climate change. The campaign raises alarms about the increasing severity of wildfires, hurricanes, and floods, emphasizing the importance of voting for climate policies to ensure cleaner air and more stable living conditions for future generations. They are also reaching out to voters in states such as Florida, Colorado, Nevada, California, and New Mexico.

Studies indicate that many Latinos in the U.S. hold a genuine concern about climate change and typically rank it higher on their list of priorities than most other demographics. Contributing factors include the disproportionate number of Latinos employed in jobs at risk from climate-related issues, such as construction and agriculture, where they face extreme weather conditions and challenges posed by wildfire smoke.

Additionally, many Latino communities reside near oil and gas facilities that significantly contribute to environmental pollution, as per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). An EPA analysis highlighted that underserved communities, including many Latinos, are less equipped to prepare for and recover from climate impacts. “We are witnessing the consequences right now,” stated Isabel González Whitaker, associate vice president for Moms Clean Air Force and director of the Latino program EcoMadres. “Why wouldn’t these issues resonate with communities when they head to the polls?”

Anthony Leiserowitz, the director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, noted that a “cultural worldview” deeply rooted in family dynamics and experiences in nature contributes to the heightened concern over climate issues among Latino communities. He explained that many within these communities do not perceive themselves as wholly separate from the natural world.

The significance of climate issues to Latino voters may differ based on gender, birthplace, and political affiliation. Among Latino supporters of Harris, 61% indicated that climate change would heavily influence their voting decisions in the presidential election, in contrast to only 24% of Trump supporters feeling similarly.

These discrepancies illustrate that Latino voters should not be regarded as a monolithic entity. The diverse cultural backgrounds can lead to a variety of perspectives, and while Latinos have historically leaned Democratic, Republicans have made strides in certain communities by emphasizing job creation, economic growth, and faith-based values.

In an effort to garner support, Kamala Harris received an endorsement from popular musician Bad Bunny. This endorsement followed a comedian’s disparaging remarks about Latinos at a Trump rally, where he infamously referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” Trump’s campaign distanced itself from these statements, declaring they do not reflect the views of the president or the campaign.

Trump’s criticized handling of Hurricane Maria in 2017, an event that resulted in around 3,000 fatalities, remains a sensitive topic, particularly as he questioned the accuracy of casualties following the hurricane. Before the 2020 presidential election, additional funds, totaling $13 billion, were released to assist Puerto Rico, but a federal watchdog later stated that officials had impeded investigations into the delays in aid delivery.

Individual experiences of climate impacts can shape voter priorities. Emiliana Guereca, founder and president of the Women’s March Foundation, canvassed in Arizona during a sweltering 114°F (45.56°C) day and found that climate-related issues resonated strongly with local Latinas. In contrast, voters in Pennsylvania expressed a greater concern for domestic issues such as healthcare, as Guereca reported from a phone bank in Boyle Heights, a mostly Latino area in Los Angeles. Encouraging Latina voters to support Harris has become a priority for Guereca’s volunteer team in Nevada, New Mexico, and California.

On an exceptionally hot day in late October, Rosemary Diaz walked through vendor booths at Placita Olvera in Los Angeles, beads of sweat gathering on her brow. When asked about her main concerns in the upcoming election, she identified climate change as one of her top five priorities. “I can’t stop thinking about how much hotter it’s getting,” Diaz remarked, while her eight-year-old son, Juan, happily enjoyed spoonfuls of vanilla ice cream by her side.