The Republican National Committee opened a Hispanic community center in Tucson, Arizona, on Friday in an effort to make inroads with minority voters.

Senate candidate Blake Masters, congressional candidate Juan Ciscomani, RNC co-chair Tommy Hicks, and Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Dr. Kelli Ward made appearances at the event to celebrate the first center in the state and the 37th RNC minority outreach center nationwide, according to a press release.

“Democrats have tried to pander to Latinos for too long,” Ciscomani said, according to The Western Journal.

‘Democrats have tried to pander to Latinos for too long.’

— Arizona Congressional Candidate @JuanCiscomani at the Republican National Committee’s Hispanic Community Center office opening in Tucson, AZ. pic.twitter.com/2e8XYGJyRt

— The Western Journal (@WestJournalism) August 19, 2022

Polling shows Hispanic voters have been slowly gravitating toward Republicans, especially in states like Florida, in which Latino support for former President Donald Trump went from 35 percent to 47 percent between 2016 and 2020, according to Americas Society. In Arizona, Trump and Biden both saw a 3 percent increase in Latino voters, but these community centers have the power to make an even larger difference in the state-level races.

For example, the grassroots work done by Rep. Mayra Flores (R-Texas), who is Mexican-born, gave her a unique edge in the June special election in a district that is 85 percent Hispanic. Her win was seen as a warning sign to Democrats they are losing ground with Hispanic and Latino voters, especially given the incompetence in Washington D.C. that has been hurting Americans of all backgrounds.

Notably, Tucson is 44 percent Hispanic or Latino, according to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates from July 2021.

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials estimates that 644,600 Latino voters will cast their ballots in Arizona this midterm cycle, which is why it’s crucial for Republicans to focus on outreach, KOLD reported. Arizona is such a competitive state that even just a small number of voters changing their minds could have a huge impact. State Republicans have the power to maintain the state’s conservative streak by connecting with Hispanics on the issues that truly matter to them, and this is a step in the right direction.

These community centers provide the kind of creative outreach that many in the conservative movement have long been seeking. The idea of a big-tent Republican Party that appeals to a wide base while still maintaining its convictions is the only path forward for the party’s future success.