Why does CA-34 struggle to elect Hispanic candidates?

[ottermax]

I live here!

CA-34 is one of the few Latino majority seats where your name / identity is not the only thing that you need to win. We have the strongest presence of DSA voters probably anywhere outside NYC and they have very high turnout. Additionally there is a strong Korean voting community that seems to support Kim despite his left wing views. As others have mentioned renters dominate the vote here as well.

Gomez sends significant amounts of mail, and has taken PAC money historically so I think it is a turnoff to younger, progressive voters.

Finally, I think there is just a desire in this district for a more vocal AOC type representative. Gomez constantly sends youtube ads and mailers with pics with Bernie and AOC... and it doesn't seem to work, so this year he is sending lots of mail about how he rejects corporate PAC money (which is news to me).

Keep in mind 2/3 city councilors for this district are DSA members, with a 3rd possible on the way if Jurado can defeat De Leon.

And Kim does quite a bit of grassroots on the ground campaigning - I've seen him in person multiple times outside my apartment, or around the community (highway overpasses, community events, DSA events), but I have never ever encountered Gomez in person or even his staff anywhere.

[ottermax]

Will Gomez win or lose this year?

I think Gomez is always favored in presidential election years - higher turnout benefits him with more low-information voters who may depend on name recognition.