Articles

Latinos' Political Clout Grows: Balanced Party Alliances, Voter Turnout Key

Guest Column by Mary Sanchez
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
June 10, 2005

Black Republicans are often seen as traitors to their race. Mention Condoleezza Rice or Clarence Thomas at a large gathering of black people and the tear-down commentary usually begins quickly. That's what happens with so much of the black vote locked up as Democrats.

Latinos, at least so far, are allowing their representatives to rise to high posts in either camp without facing slander. Latinos are more likely to boast of the political firsts they are racking up without making accusations of competence or intent. Likely, it is the newness of the status, a sense that they're "just thrilled to be at the table."

A fitting example: the first Latinos to be elected to the U.S. Senate in nearly 30 years; Ken Salazar of Colorado and Mel Martinez of Florida. Salazar is Democrat, Martinez a Republican. Most people note both men's ascension to the Senate, not one over the other.

A certain power resides with representation in both political camps. It is the current political ace of Latinos. No one knows which way their votes will swing in the future. Democrat/Republican, it's all still a guessing game.

True, Latinos who voted in the last presidential election — a record 7.6 million voters — tilted Democrat. But analysts believe more voted Republican than in past races. The big question: Will that trend continue?

No one knows, but everyone has an opinion. Here is the analogy of Marcelo Gaete of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials:

"All of the sudden you are the most popular kid in high school and everyone wants to buy you lunch."

NALEO will hold its annual conference in Puerto Rico June 23-25. One session, in which Democratic and Republican strategists will be asked to analyze plans for courting Latino voters, will be especially interesting.

Stanley Greenberg, the Democrat pollster and adviser, has already accepted. A Republican counterweight is also expected to confirm.

"It is a fun moment, but also a crucial moment for our community," Gaete said.

He's right. Latinos in the United States have never had this much political momentum. Everyone is coming a-courting.

Their growing numbers are one reason. According to the U.S. census, Latino population surpassed 40 million last year, reaching 41.3 million as of July 1, 2004. The census also recently released data about the 2004 election, which Gaete's organization is analyzing.

One significant statistic: the impact of naturalized citizens among Latino voters.

The desire to vote is often cited by immigrants as the reason they became U.S. citizens, as opposed to remaining legal permanent residents. These new citizens are often diligent voters. One out of four Latino voters in the 2004 election (28 percent) were naturalized citizens. A whopping 87 percent of Latino naturalized citizens voted.

For candidates, that is a group to court. For Latinos, that is a group to grow.

Another group to watch are young Latinos, 18 to 24. Nearly one out of 10 youth voters in the 2004 election were Latino (9 percent), while Latinos made up only 6 percent of the overall vote.

"I think we are living through some remarkable times," Gaete noted. "This is the transition movement, the tipping moment. We are no longer the best kept secret."

Mary Sanchez is an opinion page columnist for The Kansas City Star.

Copyright 2005 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For more information, visit www.ajc.com.

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