6.27.2005
The Latino Vote
I had meant to blog on the recent Newsweek cover on Alvaro Villaraigosa's victory in the Los Angeles mayoral race, which proclaimed: "Latinos are making their mark on politics as never before. Get used to it."
In reaction to this so called "Latino Power Surge," Roberto Suro, of the nonpartisan Pew Hispanic Research Center, cited a new study yesterday in the Washington Post Outlook section that indicates that the political clout of Latino voters has been overestimated. Suro contrasts the recent increase in the US Hispanic population with the actual increase in new voters, and has several interesting observations:
-Only one in four Hispanics added to the US population is an added voter, because many new Hispanic residents are illegal immigrants and will not obtain citizenship, as well as new Latino births that are not yet of voting age.
-Despite a lower population, black voters outnumber Hispanic voters by 7.5 million because 64 percent of the black population votes compared to 39 percent of Hispanics.
-Villaraigosa's victory can be explained by dissatisfaction with the incumbent and coalition building rather than his mobilization of LA's Hispanic population. Also, many prominent Hispanic politicians have been politically appointed to their positions by whites.
-Hispanics are more apathetic than whites or blacks, with only 58 percent of eligible voters registered, compared to 75 and 69 percent, respectively.
I agree with Suro's general argument that the current power of the Latino voting bloc is overrated, but the real question is, how to mobilize the Hispanic vote in the coming years? As Suro says, the Latino population is not a cliche, and cannot be easily grouped together. The party that is able to tap into the largest American minority group will reap dividends in the future.
In reaction to this so called "Latino Power Surge," Roberto Suro, of the nonpartisan Pew Hispanic Research Center, cited a new study yesterday in the Washington Post Outlook section that indicates that the political clout of Latino voters has been overestimated. Suro contrasts the recent increase in the US Hispanic population with the actual increase in new voters, and has several interesting observations:
-Only one in four Hispanics added to the US population is an added voter, because many new Hispanic residents are illegal immigrants and will not obtain citizenship, as well as new Latino births that are not yet of voting age.
-Despite a lower population, black voters outnumber Hispanic voters by 7.5 million because 64 percent of the black population votes compared to 39 percent of Hispanics.
-Villaraigosa's victory can be explained by dissatisfaction with the incumbent and coalition building rather than his mobilization of LA's Hispanic population. Also, many prominent Hispanic politicians have been politically appointed to their positions by whites.
-Hispanics are more apathetic than whites or blacks, with only 58 percent of eligible voters registered, compared to 75 and 69 percent, respectively.
I agree with Suro's general argument that the current power of the Latino voting bloc is overrated, but the real question is, how to mobilize the Hispanic vote in the coming years? As Suro says, the Latino population is not a cliche, and cannot be easily grouped together. The party that is able to tap into the largest American minority group will reap dividends in the future.
# posted by Juanson : 4:49 PM
