Hispanic voters being overlooked in Democratic presidential campaign
Hispanics are increasingly influential in the Democratic Party and in general election contests, but leaders and activists say they feel ignored and misunderstood by candidates who have spent much of their time focusing on Iowa and New Hampshire, predominantly white states at the top of the nominating calendar, reports the Washington Post.
Latinos are poised to make a significant general election impact in the Sun Belt, the Rust Belt and parts of the South, including closely contested states seen as crucial in 2020. On average, there was a near doubling last year in the number of Latino voters ages 25 to 34 in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to an analysis by Univision.
Hispanics are projected to account for more than 13 percent of eligible voters in 2020, surpassing all other ethnic minority groups, according to a Pew Research Center study. After years in which turnout by Hispanics disappointed Democrats, their participation in the 2018 midterm elections was up 13 percent from 2014, and about 7 in 10 voted for Democratic candidates in House races.
Although Latino leaders are demanding greater attention, Hispanic voters have not rallied around one of their own as a candidate. More candidate-by-candidate impressions from Latino voters in the Washington Post article.
MHC