Latinos Step Up

It's hard to predict much about November 2008 from the vantage point of November 2007. But one thing is going to be a demographic certainty: the road to the White House passes through the Latino community.

The importance of the Latino vote in next year's elections is getting some attention thanks to the Democratic presidential debate in Nevada, a key early primary state where almost a quarter of voters are Latino.

The Latino vote has also gotten brief mention in some print media over the past year.

But this story -- really, this growing reality -- is not breaking through on cable news, or gaining a strong presence on the web. Candidates in both parties should be reminded of the scope of Latino electoral clout across the nation, and the momentous consequences of the Latino vote on who wins in 2008 and beyond.

Here are the demographics: In 2008, more than 17 million Latinos will be eligible to vote. The percentage of the electorate our community makes up has been rising in every election.

I hardly have to say anything about the influence of the states where the most Latinos live. Small shifts in the voting habits of Latino Floridians, who make up around 15% of the population, could have swung the entire election in 2000 and 2004.

But it's not just Florida. How truly national the Latino vote is becomes clear when we look at the electoral math. If you add up all the electoral votes cast by states where Latinos make up 10% or more of the population, you get 228. That's just a few states short of the 270 votes necessary to win.

Every year, more states in the American West become swing states. And every year, more Latinos live in those states. I'm certainly proud of the vision shown by my party in choosing Denver as the site of next year's convention. It's a city smack in the middle of a swing state and smack in the middle of territory where there are Latino votes to be won.

And what's going to amplify our community's electoral presence even more next year is the influence states with large Latino populations have on the primaries. Look at the calendar.

Nevada will likely vote soon after Iowa and New Hampshire on the Democratic side. It's population: 24% Latino.

Then we get to February 5, which might as well be called "Super Martes". California, with more delegates than anywhere else: 35% Latino.

New York, Arizona, New Mexico, Illinois, Connecticut, Utah and my home state of New Jersey - all heavily Latino. Rich with delegates. All holding primaries on February 5.

Latinos are more than just a growing political group. Our influence in key states means that we could hold the key to the party nominations, and after that, the White House.

When we look at those realities, we're talking about more than just Latinos holding the key to the White House. We're talking about an election that is going to be truly transformational.

Here's the bottom line: if my party continue to seize the issues important to Latino voters, issues the party has consistently led on - universal health care, real educational opportunities, economic empowerment, stronger families, comprehensive immigration reform and changing our course in Iraq - then we will see record numbers of Latinos come out to vote, we will see a Democratic president and we will see a president more responsive to our community than ever before.

Every candidate, everyone running for Congress, for the Senate, for assemblyman and sheriff and dogcatcher, everyone who wants to win the confidence of Latino voters, must advocate for the values we hold dear: compassion, fairness, opportunity, and dedication to family.

These are values that resonate with every hard-working Latino American. And if these are the values the Democratic Party champions, then in 2008, the two groups are going to converge in a powerful transformational movement for change.

Follow Sen. Robert Menendez on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SenatorMenendez

Comments

[Spookcatcher]

WOW, a U.S. Senator working to have millions of illegal aliens organize and encouraging more to come and organize against the laws of our Nation! Seems like there is inherently something amiss, maybe with in his priorities to subserviance to his Oath of Office. Nothing new here.

[net50]

I just listened to C-Span and heard a book review on the "Immigration Solution" by Heather Mac Donald and Steve Malanga as the co-authors. I was impressed with the factual information that they covered, some of America's options and the possibilities for America's future. This is something that the American voters should read before we jump headlong into the debates. It is one of the best reviews that I have watched on C-Span.

[SallyLee]

When an individual is a spouse, paremt and fully functional contributing memeber of our American society why does it make sense to uproot them, deport them and destroy the positives for us all that they have developed (just because they are deemed to have not come to America legally)?
This makes no sense to me. Why do some folks want this policy?

[InofTouch]

It real sad that Latinos have a new stereotype to add because of immigration but I quess we have to make it simple because it easy to get behind a issue if it treated like a storyplot.

[rayanthony]

What's the problem with the INS simply doing their job? When you have an illegal alien in front of you, deport him.

We make it too easy for them to stay.

[IRIE]

I have stop voting fro Democrats over this very issue I will not support a canidate that is for amnesty. As a British person who has resided in the US since was 12 years old, I am an immigrant myself but having followed the rules on immigration - and complicated rules they are - I resent folks who cheat and get away with it. The entire world seems to believe they have a right to live in the US, but it doesn't work the other way around; other countries are as defensive of their borders as they are oblivious of mine, and I bristle at the double standard.

[ljsfolly]

My post never showed up so I will try again. I have lived in California all my life and in San Diego now, and the "Illegals" used to be Mexicans. They were the only ones who would pick the fruit and veggies and cotton every season. That is why the fruit and veggies and clothes were cheaper and fruit and veggies are today. Now when illegals come across they are from all over the world. This is what makes the border not safe. I wish Mexico would stand up and give their people living wages so they didn't have to risk life to come here to work just to have a house and a way for their family to live.

[ljsfolly]

Living in San Diego and in California all my life I can tell you that the majority of "ILLEGALS" were Mexican for years and that I understood because they were the only ones who would lower themselves to pick the crops every season. I also understood they were the reason fruit and veggies were cheap. Now illegals are from all over the world and are potentially very, very dangerous. They might be the al quada cells we have in our mist today. That is why the border should be closed but in sucha way that those from Mexico coming to work should not have to risk their lives to do so. But on the other hand it isn't right that Mexico doesn't do it's part and give their countrymen/women living wages where they can build a ouse and live without having to leave family to come here just so their family can live better in Mexico.

[rudyacuna]

The Latino hype is a good one but as you know it is a diverse group. A large percentage of those eligble to vote will be Puerto Rican and Mexican American. Immigration looms as a huge issue and the Democratic Party is running away from it it. Mexican and Central Americans are not terrorist and to portray them as such is racist. Because the Party is unwilling to protect the foreign born there will be a schism.

[BillLumbergh]

Most of the racism I read isn't coming from Anglos, it's coming from Latinos. Apparently, voters can now choose solely based on their perceived needs as a race, and not as Americans. If Latinos feel they deserve special treatment under the law, and support illegal immigration because the people breaking the law are of the same race, then this nation is in serious trouble.
Frankly, I'm tired of the veiled threats from the Latino community and their mouthpieces in the media.
"Do what we want, because we'll be in charge soon" is bullying, plain and simple.

[scooperss]

Hate to bother you with this question, but aren't you paid by Americans to work for all Americans and not just one group? Or are you just telling us if you're not pro-amnesty for illegals then you don't have a chance of being elected? If the last question is the accurate one, then it's a sorry state of affairs when politicians let it get to this. And BTW what happened to the funding to stop the influx of illegals? I hear it was taken from the budget by democrats.

[crawfishpie]

Senator, SOMOS TODOS AMERICANOS ... and as Americans it is not about quartering us into group this, or group that. It is about getting rid of the Bush Dictatorship--which quite frankly would surprise me if they (the Bushes) allow for an honest election to take place...or even worse, i think they are not ready to let go of the reins of power and have some plans down Covert Alley Way that would throw them as the heads of a dictatorship more inhuman than the one you escaped... but, LATINOS UNIDOS? SENATOR, IT IS MORE LIKE AMERICANOS UNIDOS to kick the Bush Crowd out of the White House and Poppy's power ambition once and for all and forever out of the reach of the White House and the Halls of Congress! Because, forever, we do not need no more Bushes ever!!!!

[EspressoAtNoon]

If I were a non-Latino New Jersey resident I'd be thinking that you must consider your constituency as being Latinos and not ALL New Jersey residents.

[EspressoAtNoon]

Senator,
Assimilation, ..... right? God, you'd think that people could come together as human beings, but it's always this "us vs. them". Let's mobilize for our race.

If anglos tried that it would resemble something like the KKK, but we're all about assimilation. But then we have the displeasure of seeing all these pluralistic groups plotting and scheming to impose their will on our policies...

When are you going to start thinking "What's best for US AMERICANS" and NOT "What's best for people who look like me".

[brooklyncitizen]

"Here's the bottom line: if my party continue to seize the issues important to Latino voters"

Sen Menendez,
I am not entirely sure I understand what these issues are. It is a bit deceiving to think there are blanket issues for latinos, in a way we are forced to identify as "latino" when we normally identify as Dominican, Cuban, Argentinian, Colombian, Peruvian, Venezuelan, Mexican...get the picture?

Latinos as a "group" vote for Republicans, why that is I don't fully get. Cubans definitely vote Republicans though their relationship has soured. Certainly the increased hostility towards us has increased awareness about the importance of political action and change and our role in it.

But as you know we represent all economic levels and all races; the Gilmore girl Alexis Bledel is latina (who'd thought it?) but certainly reaps the benefits of being white....
It is tricky to claim issues for Latinos...the immigration issue is a clear knee jerk reacton against Mexicans...we have droves of Russians,Chinese and other groups....