The new Latino representatives are Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona; Pete Aguilar, a Democrat from California; Norma Torres, a Democrat from California; Carlos Curbelo, a Republican from Florida; and Alex Mooney, a Republican from West Virginia. They will join 19 other Latino House Democrats, 5 House Republicans, 2 Senate Republicans and one Senate Democrat.

Racial Identity & Politics --”Perhaps even more than economic status, racial, ethnic, and cultural identity is becoming a main driver of political choice.” --”It suggests that the battle over the purpose and configuration of American government--what it’s for, who it serves--may become more openly about “us” versus “them” along ethnic lines. Source: Eduardo Porter, New York Times, January 6, 2016

Racial Identity & Politics --”In general, the concerns of Hispanic and black American voters are often different of those of white voters.” --”…found [Pew Center, 11/’15] that 62 percent of white Americans would like the government to be smaller and provide fewer services. Only 32 percent of blacks and 26 percent of Hispanics agreed” Source: Eduardo Porter, New York Times, January 6, 2016

Racial Identity & Politics --”Racial identity and its attendant hostilities appear to be jumping from their lonstanding place in the back-ground of American politics to the very center of the stage.” Source: Eduardo Porter, New York Times, January 6, 2016

Can you describe what the latinoamericanización of American politics might look like? It's a style of politics where street action, continued organizing in different communities and different sectors, and bold actions and campaigns are intimately linked to electoral processes. Which is very different from the way "politics" is defined in the U.S. The U.S. is bordered off from Latin America, so our ideas about politics are bordered off in the imagination: Politics mean elections. Punto. Well, if you have the Arizona Chamber of Commerce endorsing a pro- immigrant candidate, and calling on the Republican Party to tone down and change course, which they're doing -- regardless of who won these elections in Arizona, because you still have about 150,00 votes that are not counted as of right now - that's a sea change in politics, and a sea change that's being led by Latinos.

Latinos, 2012 Election An estimated 119 [131 in ’08] million Americans turned out to vote… Source: US Hispanic Leadership Institute, USHLI, November 11, 2012.

Latinos, 2012 Election, millions --Under 18 = Adult unauthorized = 7.1……… Adult permanent legal resident = 5.4……… Eligible, but Did NOT vote = 11.2…… Voters = 12.5………53.7 Source: Pew Hispanic Center, November 14, 2012.

Source: New York Times, March 30,’14,

Latinos, 2012 Election --Latinas represented 6% of total vote and 76% voted for Obama --Latinos represented 5% of total vote% and 65% voted for Obama Source: CBSNews, exit polls, November 8, 2012.

2012 Presidential Election Exit Polling B. ObamaM. Romney White (72%)39%59% Black (13%)93%6% Hispanic/Latino (10%)71%27% Asian (3%)73%26% Other (2%)58%38% Source: CBS News, Nov. 6, ‘12

Latinos, 2012 Election “ Obama won 71% of the Hispanic vote while Mitt Romney won 27%. The gap of 44%-pts. was even greater than Mr. Obama’s 36-pt. advantage over John McCain in 2008”. Source: New York Times, November 11, 2012.

Latinos, 2012 Election NY = 89% IL = 81% PA = 80% CT = 79% CO = 75% % [13%] of the electorate CA = 72% NV = 71% % [15%] of the electorate WI = 66% NM = 65% FL = 60% % [14%] of electorate Source: New York Times, November 10, 2012 and Pew Hispanic Center, November 7, 2012.

Growth in Latino Voters ”…in 1976, 88 percent of voters were white…in 2008 the number was 74 percent...It’s estimated that it will be 72 percent in 2012.” Source: Pew Research Center, 2012 ”…in 1976, 88 percent of voters were white…in 2008 the number was 74 percent...It’s estimated that it will be 72 percent in 2012.” Source: Pew Research Center, 2012

Growth in Latino Voters ”The Latino vote is more influential in the presidential election than it is in overall American politics….About half the states in play have a Latino population big enough to make the difference.” Rosenberg, Simon, New Democratic Network, 2012 ”The Latino vote is more influential in the presidential election than it is in overall American politics….About half the states in play have a Latino population big enough to make the difference.” Rosenberg, Simon, New Democratic Network, 2012

Growth in Latino Voters ”A Republican probably can’t win without about 40 percent, minimum, of the Latino vote.” Sabato, Larry, Director, Univ. of Virginia’s Center for Politics, 2012 ”A Republican probably can’t win without about 40 percent, minimum, of the Latino vote.” Sabato, Larry, Director, Univ. of Virginia’s Center for Politics, 2012

Partisan Decisions ”Fifty-seven percent of consistent conservatives say it’s important to live in a place where many share their religious faith, compared with just 17% of consistent liberals.” Source: New York Times, June 12, 2014 ”Fifty-seven percent of consistent conservatives say it’s important to live in a place where many share their religious faith, compared with just 17% of consistent liberals.” Source: New York Times, June 12, 2014

Partisan Decisions ”76% of consistent liberals say it’s important to live in an area with a mix of people from different racial or ethnic backgrounds, compared with just 20% of consistent conservatives.” Source: New York Times, June 12, 2014 ”76% of consistent liberals say it’s important to live in an area with a mix of people from different racial or ethnic backgrounds, compared with just 20% of consistent conservatives.” Source: New York Times, June 12, 2014

Partisan Decisions ”Twenty-seven percent of Democrats & 36% of Republicans see the other party as a threat to the nation’s wellbeing.” Source: New York Times, June 12, 2014 ”Twenty-seven percent of Democrats & 36% of Republicans see the other party as a threat to the nation’s wellbeing.” Source: New York Times, June 12, 2014

“…the number of eligible Hispanic voters is 2016 will total 27.7 million, a 17% increase from `From the numbers that we have, we see 800,000 Latino kids turning 18 every year, ‘ said Isaac Lee, Univision’s president of news’.” Source: The Center for American Progress, New York Times, July 13, 2014

Reaching ‘American Dream’ Source: ”Where the American Dream is Dead and Buried”, Huffington Post, Jan., 23, 2014

Changes in the Income Ladder in the US Source: ”Where the American Dream is Dead and Buried”, Huffington Post, Jan., 23, 2014

REVIEW QUESTIONS 1.) What percent of eligible Latino voters will likely vote in the 2016 presidential election? 2.) How do voting patterns change between presidential election years and “off-years”? 3.) Is the immigration reform issue a “deal-breaker” for Latino voters? 4.) T of F: More than 50% of ALL Latinos in the US are ineligible to vote. 5.) T of F: Financial issues are the number one reason Latinos do not become naturalized citizens. 6.) Why is the Latino vote more impactful in Presidential elections as compared to off-year elections? 7.) Currently, are there more Black eligible voters than eligible Latino voters? Why? 8.) Do Latinas vs. Latinos vote similarly or not? Why? 9.) What is the estimated minimum percent of the Latino vote that a Republican candidate for President need to win the election? 10.) In the 2012 Presidential election, what state had the highest percent of the Latino vote that voted for President Obama?