OnPolitics: Dems, GOP both sought 'Latino vote' in the midterms. What actually happened?
Hi there, OnPolitics readers!
The midterms are over – or are they? Even in races that have already been called, what happened last week will have repercussions for years to come.
That’s especially true about Latino voters. Both Democrats and Republicans courted those voters in the midterm elections, and both parties saw only mixed success.
White House reporter Rebecca Morin wrote about what happened and why it matters. Rebecca’s a Texas native, and she knows many of these Latino communities personally. Here’s what she had to say:
What were some of the more surprising things you learned reporting this story?
That two things can be true at once: A majority of Latinos supported Democrats in the midterm election, but the party's hold on Latino voters is shrinking.
Where did Latino voters make a difference?
Latino voters were seen as a key electorate in Nevada and Arizona, which had crucial Senate races.
In Nevada, where Latinos make up around 18% of the electorate, almost two-thirds of that voting bloc cast their ballot for Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto. She was locked in a really tight race with Republican challenger Adam Laxalt. The Nevada Democrat's win solidified Democratic control in the Senate.
Were there places where the parties made any missteps?
The biggest mistakes that both parties make when it comes to Latino voters is last-minute outreach. There isn't consistent outreach to Latino voters throughout the campaign cycle like we see for other voting blocs. Typically, outreach is left until the last couple of weeks.
Another key mistake is talking to Latino voters about only a single issue. Many candidates on both sides of the aisle have talked about immigration and border security and often focus those discussions directly to Latinos. But Latino voters are like any other American voter: They care about the economy and jobs, health care and education.
For example, in South Texas, the Republican candidates in that area focused heavily on immigration, as their districts border the U.S.-Mexico border. But Democrats, who focused on health care, abortion rights and the economy, won two out of three of the races in South Texas.
What do you think the parties have learned about Hispanic and Latino voters in this midterm cycle?
Latino voters don't have a special agenda. They care about the same issues as any other voters.
What could happen with the Latino vote in the future?
Latino voters are one of the largest growing voting blocs, so the role of Latino voters is only going to grow in future elections.
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