Latino Victory Fund on Wednesday endorsed Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) for reelection, laying the groundwork for organizing Nevada's growing Hispanic community ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

Latino Victory Fund, which endorsed Cortez Masto in her 2016 race, is among the leading Hispanic advocacy and campaign groups, dedicated to growing Hispanic representation in elected office.

Cortez Masto was the first Latina ever elected to the Senate and served as Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC) chair in 2020.

Although she has the inside track on reelection in an increasingly Democratic state, Nevada is still considered by some observers as a battleground state, where organization and turnout are key to winning a statewide election.

"Senator Catherine Cortez Masto is the leader that Nevadans and Latinos need in the U.S. Senate. Her historic victory in 2016 was a monumental step forward in the path for equal representation in government and for Latinas in Congress," said Nathalie Rayes, Latino Victory Fund president and CEO.

"She has represented the state of Nevada with a steadfast commitment to growing its economy and increasing job creation, helping Nevadans recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and combating climate change," added Rayes.

The Hispanic vote has been especially crucial for Democrats in Nevada, as labor unions have organized the largely Hispanic tourism services workforce into a powerful voting bloc in the state.

Hispanic voters in Nevada are largely concentrated in and around Las Vegas and Reno, the Democratic power bases, while the more rural areas of the state are largely white and tend to favor Republican candidates.

Cortez Masto's victory in 2016 was part of what many Democrats referred to the silver lining in an otherwise dismal election, with the potential of turning Nevada into a solid Democratic state.

Democrats view her 2022 reelection bid as essential to maintaining that momentum, as well as to maintaining the party's slim majority in the Senate.

"From fighting for immigration reform to overcoming the pandemic and creating new jobs in Nevada, I will always stand up for our Latino community. I am proud to have the support of Latino Victory Fund, and I look forward to continuing our work together to make a difference for the Latino community in Nevada and across the country," said Cortez Masto in a statement.