Democrats say a $30 million investment to engage with Latino and other minority voters helped the party achieve a net gain of 34 House seats and improve on 2014 turnout numbers. Latino participation surged 174 percent in 2018, compared to the 2014 midterms, according to Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Participation by African-Americans jumped 157 percent. "Latino voters played a pivotal role in taking back the House," Lujan told reporters during a conference call organized by the political action committee Latino Victory. "Evidence is clear: Early and active and robust outreach to communities of color — in this case, into the Hispanic community — clearly pays off." Lujan, the first Hispanic to head the committee, said the effort included an investment of at least $21 million in Latino candidates. His office also launched the first multi-state Spanish-language TV ad the final week before the election. Lujan is currently vying … [Read more...] about Democrats say Latino turnout surged 174 percent in 2018 midterms
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Democrats: Latino turnout up 174 percent over 2014 midterms
WASHINGTON — The Democratic Party says a $30 million investment in engaging Latino and other minority voters helped the Democrats achieve a net gain of 34 House seats and improve on 2014 turnout numbers. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, says Latinos increased their participation by 174 percent over the previous midterm election. The Hispanic community will have a record level of representation on Capitol Hill with at least 42 members: 34 Democrats and eight Republicans in both chambers. One House race featuring a Hispanic candidate hasn't been decided. Lujan told reporters during a conference call Tuesday that the 2018 election results show "early and active and robust outreach to communities of color — in this case, into the Hispanic community — clearly pays off." … [Read more...] about Democrats: Latino turnout up 174 percent over 2014 midterms
San Antonio Latino voter advocate remembered as ‘tireless warrior’
By Madalyn Mendoza, mySanAntonio.com Updated 11:33 am CST, Tuesday, November 13, 2018 Antonio Gonzalez passed away on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, after a battle with cancer. Antonio Gonzalez passed away on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, after a battle with cancer. Photo: BOB OWEN, Antonio Gonzalez. Click ahead to learn about the notable San Antonio residents we've said goodbye to in 2018. Click ahead to learn about the notable San Antonio residents we've said goodbye to in 2018. Photo: HELEN L. MONTOYA/San Antonio Express-News Jerry TorresJerry Torres, the patriarch and founder of the Taco Haven chain, which started on South Presa, died on Jan. 6, 2018. He was 85 years old. READ MORE HERE. Jerry Torres Jerry Torres, the patriarch and founder of the Taco Haven chain, which started on South Presa, died on Jan. 6, 2018. He was 85 years old. READ MORE HERE. … [Read more...] about San Antonio Latino voter advocate remembered as ‘tireless warrior’
Youth, Latino mobilization paid off in the midterms. Now groups gear up for 2020.
Nov. 12, 2018 / 8:30 PM GMT By Suzanne Gamboa and Nicole Acevedo AUSTIN, Texas — Tera Tanguma, 23, moved with the line of voters outside a Fiesta grocery store, passing the time with her nose in her book, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." Tanguma hadn't gotten around to voting early, but said she was not going to miss the chance to cast a ballot last Tuesday. Plus, the young Latina said, it was meaningful to take part in the voting process on Election Day. Young adults like Tanguma voted in higher numbers than any other midterm elections in the past 25 years, according to a preliminary analysis from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), which studies young Americans’ political engagement. They estimated that 31 percent of eligible young voters ages 18 to 29 turned out to vote this year, better than the past seven midterms. It's particularly noticeable considering that 2014 had the lowest youth turnout rate. "It was … [Read more...] about Youth, Latino mobilization paid off in the midterms. Now groups gear up for 2020.
Latinos could turn Texas blue in 2020 if enthusiasm holds, some say
The personal outreach of O’Rourke’s campaign, said Cristina Tzintzun, director of Jolt Texas, a Latino voter mobilization group, was key in this election, and it’s an example of how parties and candidates should motivate Latinos come future elections.“There has to be real investments in non-presidential years. Democrats can’t just depend on [Latinos] being disgusted by rhetoric or a single candidate,” Tzintzun said. “There needs to be a solid investment in outreach efforts -- especially for young people.”Historically, Latino politicos who head to Congress have come from both parties. Nearly six decades ago, the first Latino to the U.S. House of Representatives was a Democrat, Henry B. Gonzalez of San Antonio, in 1961. The first Latina to head to Congress was a Republican, Florida’s Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in 1989.The first Latino to reach the U.S. Senate was a Republican, Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazola in 1928 from New Mexico. … [Read more...] about Latinos could turn Texas blue in 2020 if enthusiasm holds, some say