The Power of the Latino Vote in the 2010 Elections.

February 8, 2010

Experts Highlight How Latino Voters Will Influence 2010 Elections
40 Competitive Races in 12 States Could Hinge on Latino Voter Turnout

Washington, DC – The Latino vote has grown exponentially since 2000, changing the political landscape in more than a dozen states across the country, and is poised to be pivotal yet again in the 2010 cycle. According to experts on the politics of the Latino vote, who gathered on a telephonic press conference today, candidates and parties need to do more than say a few words in Spanish—they need to understand and embrace the policies that motivate and influence Latino voters. How both parties handle such issues as comprehensive immigration reform will have a real impact on Latino political behavior, including turnout and party preference, in the congressional mid-terms and beyond.

Eliseo Medina, International Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Janet Murguia, President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), and Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice, analyzed the findings of a new report from America’s Voice that reviews the impact Latino voters will have on scores of battleground congressional races this cycle.

"The record influence of the Latino vote in 2008 was not a fluke; not an accident; not a random one-time occurrence," said SEIU International Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina. "It was the result of a growing shift in awareness among Latino voters in every corner of the U.S. about the real power of politics to change lives. As a result of this growing awareness, today we stand witness to the growing might of a diverse, highly-motivated electorate that will change American politics into the future."

Posted By: Ayanna Spikes