Voto Latino Welcomes Lizet Ocampo as Its First Executive Director

Ocampo Joins from People For the American Way Where She Led Their Latino Vote Program

Washington – Today, Voto Latino, the nation’s premier Latinx voter registration and advocacy organization, welcomes Lizet Ocampo as its first Executive Director. Ocampo most recently served as People For the American Way’s (PFAW) political director. Boardwalk Consulting assisted Voto Latino in a nationwide search vetting over 300 candidates and working closely with Voto Latino’s search committee to fill the new executive position. 

Voto Latino created this new position to better absorb the organization’s recent electoral growth and rise in the demand for expertise of the Latinx youth vote, modeling its executive structure after other leading organizations including Emily’s list. Voto Latino raised over $35 million in the last electoral cycle and with the new Executive Director working closely with Voto Latino President & Co-Founder Maria Teresa Kumar, the organization aims to embrace its continued growth strategically to enfranchise millions of more voters. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Lizet Ocampo as our Executive Director – a new position for the organization. Her wealth of experience and knowledge in the Latinx political space will be invaluable to our organization’s efforts,” said Voto Latino CEO María Teresa Kumar. “Lizet is a seasoned political operative with a keen understanding of the needs of our community. Her decade of electoral work has demonstrable results. I look forward to what we will be able to accomplish together in the days ahead, and election cycles to come.”

“I’m honored to be joining Voto Latino and the exceptional work they do in registering and engaging Latinx voters, as well their growing leadership to combat disinformation in the Latino community,” said Ocampo. “I’ve seen first-hand the issues that resonate with Latinos and the voting power the community has to help create positive change. With the growing assault on voting rights and impending redistricting battles set to disproportionately disenfranchise voters of color, now is the time to get to work, protecting the rights of Latinx voters and shepherding the next generation to be politically engaged. I can’t wait to get started!”

While at PFAW, O’Campo ran its independent expenditure work, much of which focused on the Latinos Vote! Program, engaging Latino Voters through paid and earned media, and working to expose and counter anti-immigrant, anti-Latino rhetoric from far-right leaders. Ocampo also managed the organization’s anti-Trump electoral efforts, worked with state and local leaders and organizations, engaged key national Latino leaders in elections including Dolores Huerta leading efforts in electoral work at the state and federal level. She served as a key spokesperson pushing back against right-wing extremism, especially as it related to immigration, civil rights, and voting rights.

Prior to her role at People For, Ocampo was associate director of immigration at the Center for American Progress. She has also served as vice president of campaigns for Latino Victory Project and national regional political director for President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. Ocampo served at the White House in the Office of Legislative Affairs as well as in the leadership office of Democratic House Whip Steny Hoyer. She received her B.A. and M.A. from Stanford University, and is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrant farm workers. 

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Voto Latino is a grassroots political organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latinx voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Through innovative digital campaigns, culturally relevant programs and authentic voices, we shepherd the Latinx community towards the full realization of its political power.