Recent disclosures reveal that the Soros philanthropic network, through entities such as the Open Society Policy Center, Foundation to Promote Open Society, and Open Society Institute, injected substantial funds into left-of-center Latino advocacy and political mobilization efforts throughout 2022.
In an election year marked by declining Democratic support among Hispanic voters, Soros-affiliated organizations directed tens of millions of dollars towards Latino voter mobilization groups, left-wing Latino advocacy organizations, media acquisitions, and collaboration with Democratic strategists.
The Equis Institute and its 501(c)(4) sister organization, Equis Labs, experienced a significant increase in funding, totaling $35.6 million from Soros’ Foundation to Promote Open Society and Open Society Policy Center in 2022. Equis Institute, established in 2019, aims to significantly boost civic participation among Latinos, focusing on actionable recommendations for engaging Latinx voters.
Equis Labs, with greater political latitude due to its tax status, produced reports guiding Democratic campaigns on effectively appealing to Spanish-speaking or Latino voters. The reports covered testing liberal messaging on Hispanics and offering guidance on countering disinformation in the Latino community. The collaborative efforts of these groups focus on mobilizing Latinos in the political process.
While historically favoring the Democratic Party, Hispanic voters have exhibited a shift, with Democrats winning 71% of the Hispanic vote in 2016, dropping to 63% in 2020, according to Catalist, a Democratic data firm. Republican Senator Rick Scott highlighted the Democrats’ disconnect with Hispanic values, attributing the decline in support to the party’s stance on government control and socialism.
Despite Democrats winning the majority of Latino voters, the decline prompted Soros to allocate substantial resources to influence and mobilize Hispanics. George Soros donated approximately $50 million to Democratic candidates, committees, and super PACs in 2022. The Soros network’s spending on left-of-center Hispanic advocacy groups exceeded $60 million, surpassing direct political campaign contributions.
Elevating Latino voter turnout and securing loyalty to the Democratic Party were primary goals reflected in the grant-making activities. The Voto Latino Action Fund, focused on voter registration and easing voting laws, received $1.4 million from the Open Society Policy Center in 2022.
Soros-backed initiatives extended beyond grant-making, with the Soros-funded Latino Media Network acquiring 18 Spanish-language radio stations for an estimated $60 million in 2022. The move drew scrutiny, with concerns raised about attempts to shift station ideologies.
Republican lawmakers attempted, unsuccessfully, to block the sale of these stations. Some critics argue that Soros seeks to silence conservative Hispanic voices, while others view the media acquisitions as an attempt to influence Hispanics and potentially make them more liberal.
Soros’ Foundation to Promote Open Society contributed $14 million to the Valiente Fund, which supports Latino community organizations focusing on indigenous sovereignty, anti-racism, and feminist economies in battleground states.
Other recipients of Soros funding include the Latino Victory Project, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, and United We Dream Action, which advocate for progressive Latino elected officials, reproductive justice, and looser immigration laws, respectively.
Republicans view Soros’ efforts as driven by a left-leaning perspective that often overlooks the real challenges facing diverse communities. Democrats, despite securing the majority of Latino votes, are urged to prioritize engaging Spanish-dominant Latinos for sustained gains in future elections.
Numerous organizations mentioned in the article did not respond to requests for comment.
