Hispanic and Latino conservatism in the United States
Latino Americans make up an increasing share of the United States (U.S.) electorate. A record 29 million Latinos were eligible to vote in the 2018 midterm elections, accounting for 12.8% of all eligible voters, a new high. They made up an estimated 11% of all voters nationwide on Election Day, nearly matching their share of the U.S. eligible voter population (U.S. citizens ages 18 and older).[1]
HistoryThe U.S. Census indicates that the Latino population of the U.S. is the fastest growing minority group in the country.[2] More than 12.8% of eligible voters nationwide are Latino.[3] 20th centuryPrior to the 1950's, Hispanic political affiliation swayed back and forth between the two major parties. From the Democratic party, due to Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal agenda. Many Hispanics were distrustful of Herbert Hoover and the Republican party, who they viewed as responsible for the economic crash.[4]
American Hispanics first began to widely support a Republican candidate, Korean war. Other non-veteran Hispanic voters were drawn to Eisenhower, due to his promotion of hard work, freedom, prosperity, and religious spirituality. Hispanic conservatives created groups such as "Latinos con Eisenhower" and pinned political buttons on their shirts stating "Me Gusta Ike".[5]
In 1980, Republican Ben Fernandez became the first Hispanic to ever run for President of the United States.[6] Over the next decade, Ronald Reagan viewed Latino social values as closely related to conservative values, as both tended to place an emphasis on religious faith, family, and hard work. Additionally, both groups tended to maintain a strong opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. Reagan often stated that "Hispanics are conservative. They just don’t know it.”[7] 21st centuryIn the Guatemalan-Americans, and Dominican-Americans tend to support the Democratic Party. As the latter groups are far more numerous (Mexican-Americans make up 64% of the Latino population in the United States),[11] the Democratic Party typically receives the majority of the Latino vote.
Although Latinos as a whole, tend to support Democratic candidates, the Democratic Party has lost ground among their voting population since its high-water mark in 2012.[12]
In 2004, according to research by the Thomás Rivera Policy Institute, 58% of Latino voters self-identified as a Democrat, while 22% identified as a Republican and 19% as an Independent.[13] In 2006, 69% of Latino voters supported Democratic candidates in congressional races, while 30% supported Republican candidates. In 2008, 67% of Latinos voted for then-Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, while 31% of Latinos voted for then-Republican presidential nominee John McCain.[14] During the 2010 midterm elections, 31% of eligible Latino voters turned out to vote.[15] 60% of Latinos supported Democratic candidates, while 38% supported Republican candidates.[16]
A 2012 study by the Center for Immigration Studies projected that in November 2012 Latinos would comprise 17.2% of the total U.S. population, 15% of adults, 11.2% of adult citizens, and 8.9% of voters. By comparison, the report found that in 2012, non-Latino whites are expected to be 73.4% of the national vote and non-Latino blacks are expected to be 12.2%. The report noted that by weight, "eight percentage points of the Latino vote nationally equals slightly less than one percentage point of the non-Latino white vote." The study also compared the 8.9% Latino share of voters to veterans (12% of the electorate), those with family incomes above $100,000 (18%), seniors 65 and older (19%), married persons (60%), and those who live in owner-occupied housing (80%).[17] In terms of voter turnout, the Center for Immigration Studies projected that 52.7% (±0.6) of eligible Latinos would vote in the 2012 election, an increase from 49.9% in 2008 and a continuation of the past decade's long upward trend. The projected Latino voter participation rate of 52.7% compares to 66.1% for non-Latino whites and 65.2% for non-Latino blacks in 2008.[17] In 2012, 70% of Latino voters identified with, or leaned toward, the Democratic Party, while 20% of Latino voters identified with, or leaned toward, the Republican Party.[18] In 2014, Latinos cast 6.8 million ballots out of 25 million eligible voters, for a voter turnout rate of 27%.[19] During the 2016 presidential election, Republican presidential nominee whose?].[20]
In 2018, 29.1 million Latinos were eligible to vote. 62% of Latino voters identified with, or leaned toward, the Democratic Party, whereas 27% of Latino voters identified with, or leaned toward, the Republican Party. Latino voters who primarily spoke English were more likely to support Republican candidates (33%), compared to voters who only spoke Spanish (15%).[21] In Florida, 66% of Cuban-Americans supported Republican gubernatorial nominee Ron DeSantis, while only 33% supported Democrat gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum, a 2 to 1 ratio for Republicans.[22] According to a 2019 Gallup Poll, 29% of Latinos identify as conservative, and that same number, 29%, voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential Election.[23] A 2021 Wall Street Journal poll found that if the 2022 United States elections were held immediately, 37% of Hispanic voters would back Republican nominees and 37% would back Democratic nominees, an even split. The poll also found that if the 2024 United States presidential election was held between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, 44% of Hispanics would back Biden and 43% would back Trump. These numbers were split more among gender, with 56% of Hispanic men and 30% of Hispanic women preferring Trump to Biden. By comparison, 33% of Hispanic men and 55% of Hispanic women prefer Biden to Trump. This marks a significant decline for Democrats from the 2020 election, where Biden won roughly 63% of Hispanic votes.[24]
Elections
Key issuesIn an October 2010 Pew Hispanic Center report, Latinos ranked education, jobs, and health care as their top three issues of concern, while immigration ranked as the fourth most important issue.[35]
In 2020, the economy, health care, and the COVID-19 pandemic were reported to be the top three most important issues for Latino voters.[36] Opinion pieces that have appeared in magazines and websites such as FiveThirtyEight and The Atlantic have frequently argued that there is no such thing as a "Latino vote", as Hispanics do not tend to vote in a singular bloc.[37][38] Factors such as age, sex, religion, ethnicity, and immigration status can all significantly influence voting factors among Hispanics and Latinos. AbortionA 2009 Gallup poll found that 57% of Hispanics oppose abortion, more than any other group in the United States. Older Hispanics are more likely to oppose abortion than young Hispanics. Likewise, first-generation Hispanics are more likely to oppose abortion than second-generation Hispanics. 62% of Latinos who have immigrated to the U.S. support greater restrictions on abortion legality.[39] EconomyIn 2022, economic issues remain the primary concern for Hispanic voters. In a Wall Street Journal poll, Hispanic men stated that Republicans possessed better economic policy, by a margin of 17 points, while Hispanic women stated that Democrats had better economic policy, by a 10-point margin.[24] Gun ControlAccording to a 2022 Pew Research Center poll, 54% of Hispanic Republicans and conservative-leaning independents find it more important to protect gun ownership rights than to control gun ownership. In comparison, 83% of non-Hispanic Republicans hold the same belief. [40] Gender-neutral terminologyThe use of the gender-neutral term "Latinx" is highly unpopular among Hispanic and Latino voters, with over 90% disliking the term.[41] The term has been used by prominent Democrat politicians such as Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; who have been widely mocked by many Republicans, Hispanics, and Latinos for its use.[42][43][44][45] A 2021 poll found that 30% of Hispanic voters are less likely to vote for a politician who uses the term "Latinx". 68% of Hispanic voters prefer the term "Hispanic", while 21% of voters prefer the term "Latino". By comparison, only 2% of Hispanic voters embrace the term "Latinx". Furthermore, 40% of American Hispanics state that the term "Latinx" bothers or offends them.[46][47] Timeline of events  .jpg)          This is a timeline of significant events in Latino history which have shaped the conservative movement in the United States.
PoliticiansAlaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Judges
Athletes and entertainers
Law
Science
Columnists, authors and journalists
Education and Business
Activists
See also
Further reading
References
|
