Hispanic/Latino Participation and Key Issues
Most Cuban-Americans and Venezuelan-Americans tend to support the Republican Party, while Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, Salvadoran-Americans, Guateman-Americans, and Dominican-Americans tend to support the Democratic Party. As the latter groups are far more numerous (Mexican Americans alone are 64% of Hispanics), the Democratic Party is considered to be in a far stronger position among Hispanics overall. The U.S. Census indicates that the Hispanic population of the United States is the fastest growing minority group in the country.
More than 9% of eligible voters nationwide are Latino. The majority support for Democratic candidates continues a pattern among Hispanic voters. In a December 2011, 67% of Hispanics said they were Democrats, and 20% of Hispanics said they were Republicans.
In the 2010 midterm elections, 60% of Hispanics voted Democratic, while 38% voted Republican. In 2008, 67% of Hispanics voted for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, while 31% of Hispanics voted for Republican presidential candidate John McCain. In 2006, 69% of Latino voters supported Democratic candidates in congressional races, while 30% supported Republican candidates.
According to an October 2010 report by the Pew Hispanic Center, Hispanics rank education, jobs, and health care as their top three issues of concern. Immigration ranks as the fourth most important issue for all Latinos.
A 2012 study by the Center for Immigration Studies projected that in November 2012 Hispanics would comprise 17.2 percent of the total U.S. population, 15 percent of adults, 11.2 percent of adult citizens, and 8.9 percent of actual voters. By comparison, the report found that in 2012, non-Hispanic whites are expected to be 73.4 percent of the national vote and non-Hispanic blacks are expected to be 12.2 percent. The report noted that by weight "eight percentage points of the Hispanic vote nationally equals slightly less than one percentage point of the non-Hispanic white vote." The study also compared the 8.9 percent Hispanic share of voters to veterans (12 percent of the electorate), those with family incomes above $100,000 (18 percent), seniors 65 and older (19 percent), married persons (60 percent), and those who live in owner-occupied housing (80 percent).
In terms of voter turnout, the Center for Immigration Studies projected that 52.7 percent (± 0.6) of eligible Hispanics will vote in the 2012 election, an increase from 49.9 percent in 2008 and a continuation of the past decade's long upward trend. The projected Hispanic voter participation rate of 52.7 percent compares to 66.1 percent for non-Hispanic whites and 65.2 percent for non-Hispanic blacks in 2008.
This is a timeline of significant events in Hispanic history which have shaped the conservative movement in the United States.
1860s
1863 - Romualdo Pacheco elected as California State Treasurer
Francisco Perea (New Mexico Territory) elected to U.S. Congress (non voting delegate)
1865 - José Francisco Chaves (New Mexico Territory) elected to U.S. Congress (non voting delegate)
1870s
1871 - Romualdo Pacheco elected as Lieutenant Governor of California
1875 - Romualdo Pacheco appointed as Governor of California
1877 - Romualdo Pacheco (CA) elected to U.S. Congress and Trinidad Romero (New Mexico Territory) elected to U.S. Congress (non voting delegate)
1879 - Mariano S. Otero (New Mexico Territory) elected to U.S. Congress (non voting delegate)
1880s
1881 - Tranquilino Luna (New Mexico Territory) elected to U.S. Congress (non voting delegate)
1890s
1897 - Miguel Antonio Otero elected as Governor of New Mexico Territory
1899 - Pedro Perea (New Mexico Territory) elected to U.S. Congress (non voting delegate)
1900s
1901 - Federico Degetau elected to U.S. Congress (1st Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico)
1905 - Tulio Larrínaga elected to U.S. Congress (1st Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico)
1910s
1911 - Luis Muñoz Rivera elected to U.S. Congress (1st Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico)
1917 - Félix Córdova Dávila (Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico) and Benigno C. Hernández (NM) elected to U.S. Congress
1919 - Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo elected as Governor of New Mexico
1920s
1921 - Néstor Montoya (NM) elected to U.S. Congress
1928 - Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo elected as United States Senator from New Mexico
1960s
1967 - Ben Fernandez creates the Republican National Hispanic Assembly
1969 - Luis A. Ferré elected as Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Jorge Luis Córdova (Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico) and Manuel Lujan, Jr. (NM) elected to U.S. Congress
1970s
1971 - President Richard M. Nixon appoints Romana Acosta Bañuelos as Treasurer of the United States
1977 - Baltasar Corrada del Río elected to U.S. Congress (Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico)
1979 - Mike Curb elected as Lieutenant Governor of California
1980s
1981 - President Ronald Reagan appoints John Gavin as United States Ambassador to Mexico
1983 - President Ronald Reagan appoints Katherine D. Ortega as Treasurer of the United States
Barbara Vucanovich (NV) is elected to U.S. Congress
Patricia Dillon Cafferata is elected Nevada State Treasurer
1985 - President Ronald Reagan appoints Linda Chavez as Assistant to the President for Public Liaison
1987 - Bob Martinez elected as Governor of Florida
1989 - President George H. W. Bush appoints Manuel Lujan, Jr. as United States Secretary of the Interior
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL) is elected to U.S. Congress
1990s
1990 - President George H. W. Bush appoints Vice Admiral Dr. Antonia Novello as Surgeon General of the United States
1991 - President George H. W. Bush appoints Bob Martinez as Director of the National Drug Control Policy
1993 - Henry Bonilla (TX) and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL) elected to U.S. Congress
1995 - Tony Garza appointed Texas Secretary of State
1997 - John E. Sununu (NH) is elected to U.S. Congress
Alberto Gonzales appointed Texas Secretary of State
1999 - Alberto Gonzales elected as Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
2000s
2000 - Matthew G. Martinez (CA) Democratic Congressman joins GOP
2001 - President George W. Bush appoints the following:
Hector Barreto as Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Rosario Marin as Treasurer of the United States
Mel Martinez as United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Alberto Gonzales as White House Counsel
Elsa Murano as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety
Leslie Sanchez as Executive Director, White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans
Cari M. Dominguez as Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Major General William A. Navas, Jr. as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
Michael Montelongo as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management & Comptroller)
Alberto J. Mora as General Counsel of the Navy
Michael L. Dominguez as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs)
Dionel M. Aviles as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)
Israel Hernandez as Deputy Assistant to the President
Douglas Domenech as Deputy Director of the Office of External and Intergovernmental Affairs in the United States Department of the Interior
Colonel Dr. Jacob Lozada as Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Ruben Barrales as Director of Intergovermental Affairs in the White House
2002 - President George W. Bush appoints Tony Garza as United States Ambassador to Mexico
2003 - President George W. Bush appoints the following:
Roger Noriega as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Rear Admiral Dr. Cristina V. Beato as United States Assistant Secretary for Health
Colonel Dr. Jacob Lozada as Human Resource Agencys Special Advisor to the Director of OPM for Diversity Strategy
Mario Diaz-Balart (FL) elected to U.S. Congress
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott appoints Ted Cruz as Solicitor General of Texas
Brian Sandoval elected as Attorney General of Nevada
John E. Sununu elected as United States Senator from New Hampshire
2004 - President George W. Bush appoints Dionel M. Aviles as Under Secretary of the Navy
2005 - President George W. Bush appoints the following:
Alberto Gonzales as United States Attorney General
Carlos Gutierrez as United States Secretary of Commerce
Anna Escobedo Cabral as Treasurer of the United States
Michael L. Dominguez as acting United States Secretary of the Air Force
Emilio T. Gonzalez as Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Israel Hernandez as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Trade and Promotion and Director-General of the United States Commercial Service
Alfonso Martinez-Fonts Jr. as Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector Office at the United States Department of Homeland Security
Juan Zarate as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism
Raymond P. Martinez as Deputy Chief of Protocol of the United States
Mel Martinez elected as United States Senator from Florida
Luis Fortuño elected to U.S. Congress (Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico)
2006 - President George W. Bush appoints the following:
Hugo Teufel III as Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Homeland Security
Lisette M. Mondello as Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs
Nancy Montanez Johner as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services
Frank Jimenez as General Counsel of the Navy
2007 - President George W. Bush appoints Christopher A. Padilla as Under Secretary for International Trade
2008 - President George W. Bush appoints Admiral Joxel García as United States Assistant Secretary for Health
Esperanza Andrade appointed Texas Secretary of State
2009 - Luis Fortuño elected as Governor of Puerto Rico
2010s
2010 - Abel Maldonado appointed Lieutenant Governor of California
2011 - Marco Rubio elected as United States Senator from Florida
Quico Canseco (TX), Bill Flores (TX), Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA), Raúl Labrador (ID) and David Rivera (FL) elected to U.S. Congress
Susana Martinez elected as Governor of New Mexico and Brian Sandoval elected as Governor of Nevada
John Sanchez elected as Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
2013 - Ted Cruz elected as United States Senator from Texas
Ron DeSantis (FL) elected to U.S. Congress
Sean Reyes appointed Utah Attorney General
2014 - Carlos López-Cantera appointed as Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Carlos Curbelo (FL) & Alex Mooney (WV) elected to U.S. Congress
Evelyn Sanguinetti elected as Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
George P. Bush elected as Texas Commissioner of the General Land Office
2015 - Carlos Cascos appointed as Texas Secretary of State
Joe Baca, former Democratic U.S. Representative for California joins GOP
2016 - Jenniffer González elected as Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
Liz Vazquez - Alaska State Representative (2015–2017)
Steve Montenegro - Arizona State Representative (2009–2017) & Arizona State Senator (2017-present)
Tony Rivero - Arizona State Representative (2015–present)
Justin Gonzales - Arkansas State Representative (2015–present)
Jim Sorvillo - Arkansas State Representative (2015–present)
Rod Pacheco - California State Representative (1996-2002) and Riverside County District Attorney (2007-2011)
Bob Pacheco - California State Representative (1998-2004)
Bonnie Garcia - California State Representative (2002-2008)
Rocky Chavez - California State Assembly (2012–present)
Eric Linder - California State Assembly (2012–2016)
Melissa Melendez - California State Assembly (2012–present)
Stella Garza-Hicks - Colorado State Representative (2007-2009)
Libby Szabo - Colorado State Representative (2011–2015)
Robert Ramirez - Colorado State Representative (2011-2013)
Clarice Navarro - Colorado State Representative (2013–present)
George Rivera - Colorado State Senator (2013–2015)
Beth Martinez Humenik - Colorado State Senator (2015–present)
Aundre Bumgardner – Connecticut State Representative (2015-2017)
Joseph Miró - Delaware State Representative (1998–present)
Ernesto Lopez - Delaware Senator (2012–present)
Dr. José Celso Barbosa - Founder of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico
Al Cardenas - Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida
Carlos A. Manrique - Florida State Representative (1992-1994)
Gustavo Barreiro - Florida State Representative (1998-2008)
Gaston Cantens - Florida State Representative (1996-2004)
Alex Diaz de la Portilla - Florida State Senator (2000-2010)
Rene Garcia - Florida State Representative (2000-2010) and Florida State Senator (2010–present)
Rudy Garcia - Florida State Senator (2000-2010)
Carlos A. Giménez - Chief of the Miami Fire Department (2000-2003), Miami-Dade County Commissioner (2004-2011) and Mayor of Miami-Dade County (2011-present)
Joe Negron - Florida State Representative (2000-2006) and Florida State Senator (2009–present)
J. Alex Villalobos - Florida State Senator (2001-2010)
Carl J. Domino - Florida State Representative (2002-2010) and U.S. House nominee (2014)
Marcelo Llorente - Florida State Representative (2002-2010)
Juan-Carlos Planas - Florida State Representative (2002-2010)
John Quiñones - Florida State Representative (2002-2007), Miami-Dade County Commission (2007-present) and U.S. House Candidate (2012)
Juan C. Zapata - Florida State Representative (2002-2010)
Anitere Flores - Florida State Representative (2004-2010) and Florida State Senator (2010–present)
Julio Robaina - Mayor of Hialeah (2005-2011)
Eduardo González - Florida State Representative (2006–present)
Esteban Bovo - Florida State Representative (2008-2010) and Miami-Dade County Commission (2011–present)
Erik Fresen - Florida State Representative (2008–2016)
Tomás Regalado - Mayor of Miami (2009–present)
Fred Costello - Florida State Representative (2010-2012 & 2014–2016) and U.S. House Candidate (2012)
Frank Artiles - Florida State Representative (2010–2016) & Florida State Senator (2016-present)
Miguel Diaz de la Portilla - Florida State Senator (2010–2016)
Jose Felix Diaz - Florida State Representative (2010–present)
Jeanette Núñez - Florida State Representative (2010–present)
Ana Rivas Logan - Florida State Representative (2010-2012)
Carlos Trujillo - Florida State Representative (2010–present)
Jose R. Oliva - Florida State Representative (2011–present)
Carlos Hernandez - Mayor of Hialeah, Florida (2011–present)
Mike La Rosa - Florida State Representative (2012–present)
Manny Díaz, Jr. - Florida State Representative (2012–present)
Ray Rodrigues - Florida State Representative (2012–present)
David Santiago - Florida State Representative (2012–present)
Bob Cortes - Florida State Representative (2014–present)
Rene Plasencia - Florida State Representative (2014–present)
Chris Latvala - Florida State Representative (2014–present)
Julio Gonzalez - Florida State Representative (2014–present)
Bryan Avila - Florida State Representative (2014–present)
Frank Aguilar - Illinois State Representative (2002-2004)
John Cabello - Illinois State Representative (2012–present)
Rebecca Kubacki - Indiana State Representative (2010-2014)
Mark Costello - Iowa State Representative (2012–present)
Carlos Mayans - Mayor of Wichita, Kansas (2003-2007)
Ralph Alvarado - Kentucky State Senator (2015-present)
Blake Miguez - Louisiana State Representative (2015-present)
Gabriel E. Gomez - Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in the 2013 special election in Massachusetts
Daniela Garcia - Michigan State Representative (2015–present)
Victoria Seaman - Nevada State Assemblywoman (2015–present)
Marilinda Garcia - New Hampshire State Representative (2007–2015) & U.S. House nominee (2014)
Bianca Garcia - New Hampshire State Representative (2013–2015)
Eric Munoz - New Jersey Assemblyman (2001-2009)
Dawn Marie Addiego - New Jersey Assemblywoman (2008-2010) & - New Jersey Senator (2010–present)
Maria Rodriguez-Gregg - New Jersey Assemblywoman (2014–present)
Larry Larrañaga - New Mexico State Representative (1995–present)
Nora Espinoza - New Mexico State Representative (2007–present)
Alonzo Baldonado - New Mexico State Representative (2011–present)
David Chavez - New Mexico State Representative (2011–2013)
Sharon Clahchischilliage - New Mexico State Representative (2013–present)
Kelly Fajardo - New Mexico State Representative (2013–present)
David Gallegos - New Mexico State Representative (2013–present)
Paul Pacheco - New Mexico State Representative (2013–2017)
Vickie Perea - New Mexico State Representative (2013–2015)
Monica Youngblood - New Mexico State Representative (2013–present)
Lisa Torraco - New Mexico State Senator (2013–2017)
Sarah Maestas Barnes - New Mexico State Representative (2015–present)
Rodney Montoya - New Mexico State Representative (2015–present)
Andy Nuñez - New Mexico State Representative (2015–2017)
Ted Barela - New Mexico State Senator (2015–2017)
Gregory Baca - New Mexico State Senator (2017–present)
Pete Lopez - New York State Representative (2007–present)
Nicole Malliotakis - New York State Representative (2011–present)
Charles Ortega - Oklahoma State Representative (2008-present)
Sal Esquivel - Oregon State Representative (2005–present)
Linda Flores - Oregon State Representative (2003–2009)
Dr. José Celso Barbosa - Founder of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico
Jenniffer González - Puerto Rico State Representative (2002–present) and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico (2009–present)
Carlos Méndez Martínez - Mayor of Aguadilla (1997–present)
Héctor O'Neill - Mayor of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico (1993–present)
Lionel Rivera - Puerto Rico State Senator (2013–present) and Mayors of Colorado Springs (2003-2011)
Thomas Rivera Schatz - President of the Senate of Puerto Rico (2009–present)
Jorge Santini - Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico (2001–present)
John Carona - Texas State Senate (1996-2015)
Victor G. Carrillo - Texas Railroad Commissioner (2002-2011)
Orlando Sanchez - Harris County Treasurer (2006-present)
Buddy Garcia - Texas Railroad Commissioner (2012-2012)
Aaron Peña - Texas State Representative (2003-2013)
Art Martinez de Vara - Mayor of Von Ormy (2008–present)
J. M. Lozano - Texas State Representative (2009–present)
Larry Gonzalez - Texas State Representative (2011–present)
Jose Aliseda - Texas State Representative (2011–2013)
John Garza - Texas State Representative (2011-2013)
Dee Margo - Texas State Representative (2011–2013)
Raul Torres - Texas State Representative (2011–2013)
Jason Villalba - Texas State Representative (2013–present)
Rick Galindo - Texas State Representative (2015–2017)
Gilbert Peña - Texas State Representative (2015–2017)
John Lujan - Texas State Representative (2016–2017)
Jason Miyares - Virginian House Delegate (2016-present)
Jeff Frederick - Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia and Virginian House Delegate (2004-2010)
Jessie Rodriguez - Wisconsin State Assemblywoman (2013–present)
Elsa Alcala - Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Eva Guzman - Texas Supreme Court Justice (2009–present)
Dora Irizarry - Federal Judge
David M. Medina - Texas Supreme Court Justice (2004-2012)
Marilyn Milian - State Circuit Court Judge and current Judge on The People's Court
Xavier Rodriguez - Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (2003–present)
Faustino J. Fernandez-Vina - Associate Justice on the New Jersey Supreme Court (2013–present)
Athletes and entertainers
María Conchita Alonso - Singer/actress
Rachel Campos-Duffy - Actress
Verónica Castro - Singer
Erik Estrada - Actor
Andy García - Actor
Ricardo Montalbán - Actor
Freddie Prinze, Jr. - Actor
Cesar Romero - Actor (1907-1994).
Jon Secada - Singer
Jaci Velasquez - Singer
Eduardo Verástegui - Model/Actor
Miguel Estrada - Attorney
Michael J. Garcia - U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
Alfredo Duran - Lawyer
Eduardo Aguirre - United States Ambassador to Spain (2005-2009)
Ben Fernandez - United States Ambassador to Paraguay (1973)
Lino Gutierrez - United States Ambassador to Argentina (2003-2006)
Barbara Moore - United States Ambassador to Nicaragua (2002-2005)
Dr. Tirso del Junco - Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
Columnists, authors and journalists
Jason Mattera - Author of Obama Zombies: How the Liberal Machine Brainwashed My Generation
Alex Castellanos - Political Media Consultant
Education and Business
Claudia Bermúdez - Businesswoman and U.S. House Candidate (2008)
Ben Fernandez - Financial Consultant
Armando Gutierrez - Entrepreneur
Felix Sabates - Entrepreneur
Andy Unanue - Businessman
Raul Danny Vargas - Businessman, Media Commentator, Political Activist
Tito the Builder - Activist
Miguel A. García Méndez - Activist
