Amidst the Sea Change, Latino Vote Remains Constant
Look at this graph.
Not much has changed.
The percentages don’t look any different than any other election. Â According to the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press “an older and much more conservative electorate than in 2006 and 2008 propelled the Republican Party to a broad victory” in this past election.
If you’re looking for the difference, it’s where it always is, among self-described independent voters. Again the Pew Center: By 55% to 39%, more independents voted for the Republican candidate this year; four years ago, independents favored the Democrat by nearly an identical margin (57% to 39%). And just two years ago, Barack Obama won the votes of independents (by 52% to 44%) on his way to the White House.
I find this fascinating. The rhetoric that turned out older and more conservative voters, that turned the votes of a majority of independents, only served to entrench Latino voters or cause them to stay home on election day.
The Pew Hispanic center has a database and a map that are worth getting lost in. Dive in, check it out, I’d love to hear what you’re thinking!
