Guest Column
Latino Candidates Vie for Top Offices in Over Three-Quarters of States
A NALEO Report
Reflecting the political maturity of Latino communities throughout our country, Latino candidates are competing in 38 states for the nation’s top federal and state offices in Election 2006, according to the 2006 Election Profile [Click here to download] released today by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund. The Profile presents the results of an analysis of all candidates running for Congress, statewide office, and state legislative seats in the November general election.
“Latinos have mounted campaigns in every region of the nation – from the Southwest, to the Northeast, to the Deep South, to New England, to the Midwest and America’s ‘heartland,’” said Arturo Vargas, NALEO Educational Fund Executive Director. This widespread competitiveness reveals the growing Latino political maturity,” Mr. Vargas added. “Latinos are demonstrating that they can raise campaign money, form political networks, organize their voting communities, and obtain key endorsements.”
According to the NALEO Educational Fund’s analysis, in 1998, Latinos were running for federal and state office in just over half of the nation’s states (26). In Election 2006, that number has grown to 38, an increase of 46%.
In addition, the 2006 Election Profile projects that:
- Latinos could gain an additional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, if New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid (D) prevails in a tight race against U.S. Representative Heather Wilson (R). If victorious, Madrid would be New Mexico’s first Latina U.S. Representative, and the state’s first Latino since Governor Bill Richardson (D), who served in Congress from 1983 - 1997.
- New Mexico will see some of the most interesting races for statewide office, as candidates in five of the seven state executive seat contests are Latino. Governor Bill Richardson (D) has excellent prospects for re-election. In the Secretary of State race, Bernalillo County Clerk Mary Herrera (D) faces former Albuquerque City Council President Vickie Perea (R); State Representative and Special Prosecutor Hector Balderas (D) is in a competitive contest against CPA Lorenzo Garcia (R) for State Auditor; CPA and business owner Demesia Padilla (R) faces a tough battle against James B. Lewis (D) for State Treasurer; and Jim Baca (D) is challenging incumbent Patrick Lyons (R) for State Public Lands Commissioner.
- Minnesota will gain its first Latina State Senator, as Patricia Torres-Ray (D) is running in a competitive contest for an open seat in South Minneapolis’ District 62.
- The total number of Latinos in lower State Houses
will increase by four, from 178 to 182. The net gain will stem from
victories by Latino Republicans, including Peter Lopez (R) in District
127, west and south of Albany in New York. If elected, Lopez would become
the first Latino Republican in
that state’s Assembly.
Analysis of the potential lower State House gains also reveals the political progress of Latino candidates in states with emerging Latino communities. In the nine states with traditional Latino population concentrations (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Texas), the Profile projects a net loss of two seats. However, in the other states, the Profile’s data indicate a net gain of six seats. “Latinos in states with emerging communities have laid an important foundation for their continued efforts to achieve full political empowerment,” said Mr. Vargas.
Other highlights of the Profile include:
- A list of all Latino candidates for statewide office
- A state-by-state description of the key federal and state legislative races involving Latino candidates (an analysis of the growing number of Latinos running for local offices, such as county, municipal and school board seats is beyond the scope of the Profile).
- “Latino candidates are proving that they can attract votes from and govern diverse constituencies, beyond the Latino community,” concluded Mr. Vargas. “They are eager to demonstrate their commitment to our democratic process by showing they can lead and serve all Americans.”
- __________________________
- About the NALEO Educational Fund - The NALEO Educational Fund is the leading organization that facilitates full Latino participation in the American political process, from citizenship to public service. The NALEO Educational Fund is a national non-profit, non-partisan organization whose constituency includes the more than 6,000 Latino elected and appointed officials nationwide.
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed by HispanicVista.com (www.hispanicvista.com) without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)