Amigos de Guadalupe Rallies Voters in East San Jose
Elected officials and residents gathered at Mexican Heritage Plaza urging turnout and reporting of any federal interference near polling places.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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Amigos de Guadalupe held a get-out-the-vote rally Monday outside Mexican Heritage Plaza in East San Jose, attended by elected officials, community leaders, and residents. Officials urged voters to cast ballots and to report federal interference near polling places.
Why it matters
Residents have raised questions about whether it is safe to vote amid concerns about immigration enforcement, and decades of underinvestment in neighborhoods such as Mayfair have fed distrust of government. The rally sought to address those concerns directly ahead of election day in Santa Clara County.
Turnout in the June 2022 Santa Clara County primary ranged from 27% of registered Latino voters to 49% of Black voters, with white voters at 44% and Asian voters at 33%. It remains unclear whether the November 2026 turnout will follow the same pattern.
The players
Amigos de Guadalupe
A community organization in East San Jose that organized the get-out-the-vote rally and works on civic participation among local residents.
Maritza Maldonado
CEO of Amigos de Guadalupe, leading the organization's civic engagement work in East San Jose.
Sam Liccardo
Congressman representing California's 16th Congressional District, which includes San Jose.
The details
The rally was held outside Mexican Heritage Plaza, where elected officials and community leaders encouraged residents to vote and to report federal interference near polling places. Residents can find ballot drop-off locations and vote centers through the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters website or by calling (866) 430-8683.
Timeline
Monday (November 2, 2026): Get-out-the-vote rally held at Mexican Heritage Plaza.
Tuesday (November 3, 2026): Election day in Santa Clara County.
June 2022: Primary election turnout by racial group was recorded for the county.
Civic Context
The 2022 primary data showed Latino and Asian voters in Santa Clara County turning out at lower rates than white and Black voters, and the rally aims to narrow that gap ahead of the November 2026 election.
Voters can locate ballot drop-off sites and vote centers through the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, reachable at (866) 430-8683. A separate multilingual line at (866) 687-8683 takes reports of federal interference near polls.
The takeaway
Voter participation in Santa Clara County varies widely by group, and the rally's emphasis on turnout and reporting interference reflects a push to close those gaps before election day. Residents with questions can contact the Registrar of Voters directly.
What happens next
Election day in Santa Clara County is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For more on local efforts to boost participation, see Civic Engagement coverage for San Jose.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San José Spotlight.
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