LOS ANGELES (AP) — A few months ago, Mary Wagner woke up to the smell of smoke from wildfires in California and northern Nevada. She readied her sons for school and stepped outside into the smokey Las Vegas air. Her 13-year-old son’s asthmatic cough worsened.
“It’s really, really bad and it’s really hard for him to breathe,” she recalled. This summer, the city also under prolonged, record-breaking temperatures of 115 F (46.11 C) or greater.
Wagner knows days will get hotter and wildfires more frequent with climate change. That’s why global warming is a critical issue for her in this election. “Seeing how climate change affects our pockets as well as our health has become a priority for myself and for people in my community,” said Wagner, who was born in Honduras, grew up in the U.
S. and will be voting in her first election after becoming a citizen in 2022. As November approaches, Latinas like Wagner could play a critical role in deciding the presidency and several congressional and gubernatorial races.
An estimated 36.2 million Latinos are eligible voters this year, 4 million more than four years ago. But Latina voters, who turn out to the polls at higher rates than Latino men, could play a more decisive role.
Amid many potential voters with varying priorities, some groups are targeting Latinos with a climate focus. They are hoping to harness the power of Latinas to vote to protect children from climate change, a top-of-mind issue for Latino voters who suppo.