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Analysis: Hispanics Fail To Win Hispanic Congressional Districts

Why Are Hispanics Failing To Win In Hispanic Congressional Districts?
Roque Planas
By 

National Reporter, HuffPost

In this photo taken Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada state Sen. Ruben Kihuen prepares to film an ad announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Congress. Nevada's House candidates are busy running for office. But which office they are running for remains unknown. The state's new voter district maps won't be available until at least late November, and could be delayed by an appeals process for months after that. That makes for an odd campaign season where candidates are taking aim at unknown rivals. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
In this photo taken Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada state Sen. Ruben Kihuen prepares to film an ad announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Congress. Nevada's House candidates are busy running for office. But which office they are running for remains unknown. The state's new voter district maps won't be available until at least late November, and could be delayed by an appeals process for months after that. That makes for an odd campaign season where candidates are taking aim at unknown rivals. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

One year ago, Democratic state Sen. Ruben Kihuen declared himself the best candidate to represent a newly-drawn, Hispanic-heavy congressional district in North Las Vegas. Thirteen days later, he dropped out of the race.

Even though a record number of Latinos are serving in the 113th Congress, Hispanic candidates are significantly underperforming in heavily Hispanic districts, particularly compared to other minority groups.

Nationwide, just 41 percent of congressional districts (24 of 58) with a Hispanic voting age population (VAP) of at least 30 percent are represented by a Hispanic member of Congress. In comparison, 72 percent of districts (32 of 44) with a black VAP of at least 30 percent are represented by a black member.

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