Across the country, Latinos occupy an increasingly sought-after position of influence in the election: swing voters in swing states. In total, an estimated 17.5 million Latinos are expected to vote this fall, many of them in states that could help determine the outcome of the presidential election.
In Nevada, Latinos make up 20%of registered voters. In Arizona, they make up a quarter of the population. And outside the West, the number of Latinos in key swing states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina has doubled or even nearly tripled over the past decade.
The Latino vote is powerful. And their interest and views are widely varied and often divergent, as can be expected from a group that includes people of every race and religion, Spanish, Quechua and English speakers, 12th generation inhabitants of the land that is now the United States, as well as first-generation migrants.
In HCN’s October issue, we dug into just a few examples of how the many communities that make up the Latino population are flexing their power and organizing for the long haul. They are focused on the 2024 election, but across the West, organizers are preoccupied with the next five, 10 and 20 years of Latino influence in elections, making sure voters know how to get involved and informed. (Later this month, tune in to stream a documentary linked to that reporting, produced by PBS and Quiet Pictures, and follow us on social media to catch short videos that tell stories of Latino voters across the region.)
Our reporting, primarily in Arizona, Nevada and Washington, just scratched the surface of what’s happening within Latino communities.
Here is a list of excellent stories that offer far more perspective than we could get to.
Nevada Latinos have more voting power than ever. Here’s what that means for 2024
From frequent HCN partners the Nevada Independent, a thorough look at the data on Latino voters in the swing state – and across the country. Get up to speed on exactly how much influence Latino voters wield. Also read this piece about which issues Latino voters are focused on (Spoiler: it’s the economy.)
Latina voters are key to Arizona’s abortion rights ballot measure
In interviews with Latina voters across the region, abortion came up repeatedly as a key issue that could influence their vote. Arizona Luminaria presents a deep dive on what that looks like in Arizona, where abortion is on the ballot.
Can Democrats win back Latino voters by treating them like everyone else?
Every presidential election, political pundits turn their attention to the “Latino bloc.” But in between elections, that focus drifts. The New York Times offers a strong analysis of how political parties, and Democrats in particular, could better serve Latino voters.
Arizona Latino voters are ready to reject the GOP’s hateful rhetoric and dystopian policies
This Arizona Mirror op-ed from Alejandra Gomez, who was featured in our reporting on Latino organizers in swing states, highlights another phenomenon we heard everywhere: People in Latino communities are often deeply motivated by local issues, rather than national trends. (Gomez wasn’t the only person we interviewed who publicly weighed in on the election. Mark Figueroa, who HCN Fellow Natalia Mesa interviewed for her piece on the Yakima Valley, wrote about how campaigns can better meet Latino voters’ needs for the Seattle Times.)
Who are Latino Americans today?
This New Yorker article is a twofer: Graciela Mochkofsky reviews the new book LatinoLand and in doing so succinctly dismisses common stereotypes of Latino voters. Mochkofsky also offers a fascinating insight into what actually unites Latino voters: that their identity is political and can be politically powerful. Give both the review and the book a read.
Did you read something you loved that we didn’t mention? Tell us about it @highcountrynews on most social media or by writing us at editor@hcn.org.
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