Nevada Senate candidate Marj Cortez Masto faces barrage of negative ads

The first Latina elected to the U.S. Senate will have to face a barrage of negative ads on Spanish language TV and radio in Nevada as an outside group prepares to spend $2 million on efforts to back her Republican challenger - a sizable investment in what's expected to be the most influential electorate in November.

The new ad declares that it is dangerous and so weak on crime.

The advertising campaign cuts into a Spanish language Ad spending advantage that Cortez Masto has held for months. Since the state's June 14 primary, Cortez Masto and outside Democratic groups led by the Somos PAC have spent $2.7 million on Spanish-language ads, compared to $176,000 spent by Republicans.

Club for Growth expects to spend $10 million in Nevada in the general election — including the Spanish-language ads — more than the group has spent in any other battleground state, a spokesman said.

Latinos are expected to make up 20 percent of the voters who go to the polls on November 8. Democrats are seeing signs that Latinos will skip this year's election, which could end up tilting the race in favor of Republican candidates, according to NBC News. Many Latinos have negative views of Laxalt at the same time.

Club for Growth called spending the single largest investment in Hispanic media in the race by any Republican group. David McIntosh, Club for Growth Action's president, said Nevada has the most important Senate race in the country. While Democrats have taken the Hispanic vote for granted, it is important to reach this audience and let them know where the candidates stand on issues that matter, such as crime, inflation, and the economy. NBC News reached out to Cortez Masto's campaign for comment.