Importance of Voters with Latin American roots on U.S. elections

Electoral Demographics | Key Country of Origin 

Latinos are becoming increasingly important in the US political landscape, which will surely have an impact on the upcoming elections, including the 2024 presidential elections.

The Hispanic electorate can be concentrated in five main groups:

MEXICANS:

Some 37 million people of Mexican origin live in the US, about 62% of the Latino population, with a shared border and a complex diplomatic relationship accentuated in the Trump era, Mexicans are about 58% of Latino voters.

Almost half (46%) of Hispanic voters reside in the two most populous states in the country: California (with 7.8 million Latinos) where nearly 80% of Hispanic voters in that state are of Mexican origin, and Texas (with 5.6 million) where 87% of Hispanic voters also have ancestors in that country.

PUERTO RICANS:

They are the second largest Hispanic group in the country, with 5.6 million Puerto Ricans, nearly double the number living on the island, making Puerto Ricans the second largest Hispanic group in the United States, the states with the largest concentration are Florida (20%), New York (20%) and New Jersey (8%).

Although Puerto Ricans are born with citizenship, they can only vote for president if they live in one of the 50 states that make up the United States, according to the Pew Center. This community represents about 13% of the Latino vote.

The weight of the Puerto Rican vote plays an important role in the Florida elections, mainly because of the residents of the Orlando area who, as of 2017, after Hurricane Maria devastated the island, make up a community of 1.3 million Puerto Ricans, the second most important after the Cubans.

CUBANS:

They represent 5% of Latino voters, most of whom are concentrated in Florida, a state that has been fundamental in presidential elections in the last two decades and is strongly Democratic but has recently been the focus of interest from the Republicans.

Cubans have traditionally voted for the Republicans, showing themselves to be the main community of Hispanic voters in the state with about 30% and followed by Puerto Ricans with 29%.

Cubans have been more involved than other Latino groups, in the last elections, 56% of Cubans voted compared to 48% of Puerto Ricans and 46% of Mexicans.

DOMINICANS:

The Dominican population has grown by 37% in the last decade in the country. Some 2.2 million immigrants from or born in the Dominican Republic now live in the US, the majority living in New York, where they represent 20.8% of the Latino vote.

Seven out of 10 Dominicans are citizens, of which 45% are by birth and 27% are in the process of naturalization, which would allow them to exercise their right to vote, although most do not live in key states.

What about religion on voters with Latin American roots?

EVANGELICALS:

In addition to the geographic origin of voters, religious factors also play an important role for many Latinos, with the most prominent group in this regard being evangelicals, who have traditionally gravitated toward conservative candidates.

In the case of the 2017 presidential campaign, this religious group lowered the principles on issues such as abortion, the rejection of same-sex marriage, policies on the LGBT community and the election of conservative judges on the Supreme Court; they were widely supported by this religious group.

​How Important are Latino Voters  in U.S. Elections?

The Latino vote has given new meaning to the dynamics of the electoral contest in the US, presenting innumerable variables that keeps awake those in charge of the campaigns: however, they still present many challenges for the community that is increasingly growing in its economic, social and little participation. Little by little at the political level:

• More Hispanics are not more votes: Although there are currently 62 million Hispanics, it must be taken into account that many are undocumented; others have a legal residence permit but are not naturalized, which means they do not have the right to participate in an election. However, more than 21.7 million Hispanics are currently eligible, an all-time high and an increase of more than 2 million since the last presidential election.
• As a result, eligible voters are growing, but they still do not reflect the full weight of the Hispanic community. Most Latino adults do not vote because they are foreigners. That is why the Latino vote is called “Sleeping Bear”, because the effect it could have has not been seen and will only become evident as the generational change continues.
• The young vote: Another reason the Hispanic vote is attractive to both parties is that the growing electorate is young. By definition, young people are less likely to have established party affiliations, and more minorities are relying on young people for political representation in the US government. The challenge is to interest a segment of the population, that tends to participate less in politics than the most veterans do.
• Monolithic: The preferences of the main minority in the country are far from uniform: the Hispanic vote is not monolithic and this is evidenced by the electoral behavior of Mexican-Americans in the west of the country that differs from that of Cuban-Hispanics in the east coast. As a result, California has historically leaned toward the Democratic Party, while Florida was a Republican stronghold until 2008.
• Registration: Voter registration rates: Although nearly 22 million Latinos are eligible to vote, only half actually participate. Statistics indicate that less than 60% of those who could vote come forward to vote. Thus, the parties have used their best weapons to recruit new Hispanic voters, with strategies ranging from awareness to door-to-door visits.

Political analysts are not sure that seeing a Latino last name on a ballot will immediately elicit voter sympathy, but they agree that a majority and continued turnout through back-to-back elections could have an indirect consequence: a greater Hispanic presence on ballots. Elected officials.

In the future, the representation that Hispanics achieve will affect national issues, and the more Hispanic candidates, the easier it will be to ensure that the issues that matter to Hispanic voters such as the economy, education and immigration issues, have a place in Washington.

This is achieved by fostering participation and the belief that political office is possible, especially at the local and state levels.

Finally, the candidates have oriented their focus to developing political strategies in radio and TV ads with versions in Spanish, addressing issues such as education, to highlight the scholarships promoted by the government so that Hispanic youth can continue higher education.

They also talk about health, a sensitive issue for millions without coverage, and unemployment rates, which have affected Latinos more than other groups. It is clearly good news that more Latinos are running for and winning elections, however, this does not mean that the day-to-day conditions of Latinos will improve.

One thing is clear: the political landscape of the United States is changing, and Hispanics are part of that change.