During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the number of Latino voters increased 13 percent over 2012, reaching a record high of nearly 13 million. Latinos are now poised to affect key districts in the midterm elections. However, it will require successful mobilization and investment efforts in order to harness the full strength of the Latino electorate, said the study's author, Mindy Romero, of the California Civic Engagement Project, or CCEP.
The CCEP and UnidosUS will be presenting their latest research at a press briefing, “Latino Tipping Point: How Latinos Are Poised to Impact Key Districts in the Midterm Elections,” Wednesday, June 20, 10 a.m. EDT, at the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Washington DC, 20045. Romero, CCEP founder and director, and Clarissa Martinez de Castro, deputy vice president, UnidosUS, will present the findings.
During the briefing, representatives from UnidosUS and UC Davis will reveal key research findings, including a profile of the Latino voter and predictions of competitive districts where the Latino electorate can have a strong showing at the ballot box. Study findings are based on an analysis of American Community Survey and Catalist voter data.
Strength of the Latino vote
Some highlights from the research on the vote include:
- Latinos currently make up 17.8 percent of the nation's total population at 57.4 million
- 60 percent of the Latino population are under age 35, making Latinos the youngest major ethnic or racial group in the country
- Latino voters still experience electoral underrepresentation and need to be mobilized to not only register to vote but also vote
- The Latino share of the U.S. vote will grow significantly over the next few decades
Source: Published originally on UC Davis News, UnidosUS and UC Davis Examine Strength of the Latino Vote , by Karen Nikos-Rose on June 18, 2018.