Latinos as Fickle as Rest of Electorate

I’m not sure if the dust is going to settle on the recent mid-term election. At least it won’t settle any time soon. So now is as good a time as any to take a look inside the numbers; see what we can find.

I’m interested, as always, in the effect that Latino voters had on the results. Ours is a multi-dimensional American society, with many points of view and constituencies. So to single one out for close inspection is part and parcel of how our politics operates.

From what we’ve been able to tell, Latino voters remained unchanged. About 65 percent voted for Democrats across the country, and 35 percent voted for Republican candidates. That has been the norm for many years.

Another note-worthy thing is that fewer Latino voters went to the polls this time around as compared to the 2008 election. Granted, such a comparison is not entirely accurate. 2008 was a presidential year and 2010 is not; and presidential elections draw more people to the polls overall. But isn’t that like comparing apples to apples, Granny Smith to Delicious?

I think Latino voters became enfadados, fed up with this election, the candidates and two years of inaction on important issues. Add to that the wholesale political scapegoating of undocumented workers and the result is an electoral segment that stayed home rather than cast a vote.

It’s not good. I agree. Too many people have sacrificed too much in order for Latinos and blacks to have the right to vote, and that right continues to be defended in court to this day. It’s an ironic decision to not vote. But it sends a message of discontent with the status quo. And I think the message is clear to both political parties. You can’t back-pocket Latino voters, especially now that Latino Republicans were voted into governors’ mansions in New Mexico and Florida. Especially since, according to many pundits, Latino voters saved the U.S. Senate for the Democratic Party.

If anyone had reason to throw bums out of Congress it was Latinos, first because Latinos have a 12.4 percent unemployment rate, and second because of Congress’ paralysis on immigration reform. On the other hand, if anyone had reason to be disillusioned it was Latinos for those very same reasons: hard times and empty promises.

So what are we to make of Latino voters in this election? That they can be as fickle as any other voting segment; that they’ll come out to vote and save political power in states where it matters; that they’re gaining leadership in the Republican Party; and that politicians of both parties take them for granted at their own peril.

Not convinced? Wait until the census numbers are released. Wait until the population count reveals that Latino communities are larger than expected and are springing up and growing in influence in states such as Tennessee and Georgia. Wait until it become common knowledge that the Latino community is young, working class and eager to succeed.

You’ll see the dust kick up even more.