Influence Alley

The pro-union American Worker PAC is planning to spend $1 million in each of about 20 congressional races next year.

The PAC kicked off its fundraising campaign today, targeting 20 to 25 districts with large Latino and union populations that are supportive of pro-labor candidates, said Chuck Rocha, the committee's president. It hopes to raise half the money from unions and half the money from individuals.

That's a big jump from 2010 when the group spent about $725,000 on independent expenditures. So far this cycle, the group has only raised about $40,000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks money in politics.

Rocha told Influence Alley that the PAC is unique because it plans to engage Latinos in political issues other than immigration. The PAC will frame its candidates as those who support Medicare, Social Security and job-creating policies.

While immigration policy is important to the Latino community, Rocha said, "what they really worry about every day is feeding their family and jobs staying in the community."