Influencer Carlos Eduardo Espina Collaborates with Democratic Figures Ahead of 2028 Election

Carlos Eduardo Espina has collaborated with several Democratic figures viewed as potential candidates for the 2028 presidential election. These officials have invited him to events or collaborations to reach his followers. Over the past year, Espina has met and participated in events with governors from California and Illinois, who are part of discussions about the 2028 race.

Espina moderated a conversation for 2024 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris during her book tour in Houston in October. He also discussed immigration policy impacts in a TikTok video with her. In total, Espina has worked with nine Democrats who may run for president in 2028.

Influence and Audience Reach

A 2025 Pew Research study found that Espina ranked among the top five influencers U.

S. adults turn to for news, following conservatives Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson. Espina stated that the majority of his audience consists of working-class Latinos. Matt A. Barreto, a professor of political science at UCLA and head of polling firm BSP Research, which worked for the Harris-Walz campaign in 2024, told ABC News that Espina has a strong following due to his authentic and trustworthy content.

Barreto added that Espina represents the type of voice needed in the Latino community to combat disinformation in Spanish, though he emphasized that one person cannot solve the issue alone. He stated that Democrats lag behind right-wing media in this area and need more such messengers.

Past Collaborations and Independence In

June 2024, Espina joined then-President Joe Biden at the White House for the announcement of executive actions on immigration, allowing some undocumented spouses and children of U.

U.S. citizens to apply for permanent residency without leaving the country. Espina said the content from this event reached a new subset of the population, including working-class Latinos. He attended the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where he spoke on stage about his upbringing, the contributions of immigrants, and concerns over rhetoric on immigration.

Espina emphasized that he controls his content and platform independently, without influence from politicians. He has collaborated with a Republican representative from Florida on an immigration plan that has bipartisan support, aimed at border security, legal immigration reform, and legal status for eligible undocumented immigrants.

Future Aspirations

Espina expressed interest in influencing the 2028 election, particularly on immigration policy.

He has not ruled out working with officials across parties to advance reforms benefiting the Latino community, citing examples of elected officials who have cooperated despite disagreements. Espina stated that representing a larger community requires engaging even with those one disagrees with.