A new group aiming to tap into the political potential of Nevada’s sizable Hispanic community is backed by an old name -- the man who presided over one of the few Democratic political operations that flipped Republican seats in the last election.

Latino Victory Nevada, which launches Friday, plans to recruit, train and help finance Latino candidates in the state. It is starting with the help of former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, whose allies will staff the political action committee and hope to replicate the 2016 success in this year’s elections. The ex-senator’s political operation, known as the “Reid machine,” elected Democrats last cycle to two House seats previously held by Republicans and put the first Latina in the U.S. Senate.

“2018 will be a defining moment for Latino political engagement, and Latino candidates will play a critical role in turning out our voters,” said Latino Victory Nevada Chair Mariela Hernandez, a Democratic operative with ties to Reid, in a release obtained by The Nevada Independent. The Nevada operation will also oversee similar efforts in Arizona.

Reid will be the honorary chairman. The leadership team will also include Nevada state Sen. Yvanna Cancela; small business owner Jose Solorio; and political activist Astrid Silva, who became close to Reid while fighting to help immigrants like herself who were brought to the country illegally as children. Such young immigrants, known as DREAMers after a bill written to provide them with legal residency, are a political force within the larger Hispanic community.

Latino Victory Nevada is one chapter of a larger, national organization called Latino Victory Fund, a political action committee geared towards electing Hispanic candidates.

Latino Victory Fund made a name for itself last year with a controversial ad during the Virginia governor's race, which was won by Democrat Ralph Northam. The ad, which ran a few days before the election, depicted children of color running from a threatening black truck flying the confederate flag and a bumper sticker reading Ed Gillespie, the GOP candidate. It ends with the message “Reject Hate. Vote Nov. 7.” The group took the video down, but defended its decision to run it, which was criticized by Republicans as race-baiting.

The national group has a good reason to eye Nevada. Thanks in part to Reid’s work, Nevada was one of the few swing states that Democrat Hillary Clinton won over President Trump. Hispanics made up 18 percent of the state’s voters in 2016 and 60 percent of them voted for Clinton, according to exit polls.

The state is also home to the nation’s fifth-largest Latino population, making up approximately 29 percent of the state population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Of the Nevada Latino voters who cast a ballot in 2016, 37 percent were new voters, according to Latino Victory Nevada. But Latino representation among Nevada’s elected officials lags behind its share of the electorate and population.

During the 2016 cycle, Reid worked to change that dynamic. He helped recruit Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Rep. Ruben Kihuen, who represents Nevada’s 4th Congressional District. (Kihuen is not seeking re-election after being accused of sexual harassment. He hopes to clear his name following the launch of a House Ethics Committee investigation.) Reid also recruited Rep. Jacky Rosen, who currently represents Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District and is running for Senate.

Reid believes “it’s long past time” for Nevada’s Latinos to flex their political muscles.

​​“From the first non-Native American​, Raphael Rivera,​ to set foot in the Las Vegas Valley to the first Latina U.S. Senator, Catherine Cortez Masto, Hispanic Americans have been part of the fabric of Nevada since its inception. It’s long past time their political ​involvement matches their contributions to our state,” Reid said in the release. “I’m ​fortunate to ​be able to ​join this effort to build a pipeline of candidates and ensure Hispanics are justly represented in our government.”

The plan is for Latino Victory Nevada to work with local stakeholders to identify and recruit Latino candidates; provide specialized support, including fundraising, based on the specific needs of each candidate; and help current Latino elected officials in Nevada move up the political ladder.

Though it’s focused on the 2018 and 2020 elections, Latino Victory Nevada is designed to continue beyond those initial cycles in an effort to produce a government more reflective of its constituents through a raft of progressive Latino leaders supported by Latino Victory Nevada.

In addition to local and state candidates, Latino Victory Nevada will help its parent organization identify candidates for federal office from the state of Nevada. Latino Victory Fund also hopes to bring national attention to Nevada causes and candidates.