After Election Day:Latino Candidates and Voter Impact

Thursday, November 18, 2010Dirksen Senate Office Building -

Washington, D.C.

Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Marco Rubio (R) decisively won a closely-watched three-way race to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate, against Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who left the Republican Party to run as an Independent, and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek (D).

Latinos in Congress

Businessman Bill Flores unseated incumbent U.S Rep. Chet Edwards (D) in Texas’ 17th Congressional District.

Idaho State Rep. Raul Labrador unseated incumbent U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick (D) in Idaho’s1st district.

Washington State Rep. Jaime Herrera (R) won a competitive race for the open 3rd Congressional District seat.

Latinos in Congress

Francisco “Quico” Canseco unseated incumbent U.S Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D) in Texas’ 23rd district in a race that was closely-watched across the nation.

Latinos in Congress

The Florida 25th Congressional district seat held by incumbent U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) will be represented by Florida State Rep. David Rivera (R), following a challenge from Joe Garcia (D), who formerly served as Executive Director of the Cuban American National Foundation.

Number of Latinos in U.S. House of

Representatives Prior to Election

Number of Latinos in U.S. House of

Representatives After Election

DEM GOP DEM GOP

Total (Rep. Ortiz

loses)20 3 17 7

Total(Rep. Ortiz

wins)20 3 18 7

Latinos in Congress

Latinos in Statewide Offices

District Attorney Susana Martinez (R) won her battle against Lt. Governor Diane Denish (D) to become Governor of New Mexico. Governor-elect Martinez is the first female and the first Latina elected to serve as the state’s Governor.

Federal judge and former Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval (R) defeated Clark County Commission Chair Rory Reid (D) in the race to become Nevada’s next Governor. Sandoval will be Nevada’s first Latino Governor.

• Hawaii and Missouri were among the states that gained one state senator.

• In lower state houses, there were was no net change in the number of Latino legislators.

• In Nevada, the number of Latinos in the State Assembly increased from four to seven.

• In Colorado, three new Latinos were elected to serve in the General Assembly, bringing the state house’s Latino delegation up to five members.

• New Mexico saw a net loss of two Latino State Representatives.

• In Texas, there was a loss of six Democrats, and a gain of five Republicans.

Latinos in State Legislatures

Number of Latinosin State Senates Prior to Election

Number of Latinos in State Senates After Election

DEM GOP DEM GOP

Total 56 8 60 6

Number of Latinosin State Lower Houses Prior to

Election

Number of Latinos in State Lower Houses

After Election

DEM GOP IND DEM GOP IND

Total

152 27 1 147 33 0

Latinos in State LegislaturesState Senates

State Lower Houses

Latino Voter Impact in Key Races

Colorado– U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D) narrowly won his reelection bid, after strong competition from former Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck. According to some analyses, Bennet garnered 81% of the Latino vote, playing a critical role in his success2.

Nevada –U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) faced an extremely competitive reelection campaign against former Nevada Assemblymember Sharron Angle. His success is widely attributed to the Latino vote, which may have moved in his favor as a result of Angle’s strong anti-immigration stance. Some estimates suggest Reid garnered up to 90% of Latino votes1.

1&2 Latino Decisions 2010 Election Eve Poll

Latino Voter Impact in Key Races

California, U.S. Senator – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer won her reelection bid against former-Hewlett Packard CEO, Carly Fiorina. Latino voters played a critical role in her success – estimates suggest 65% of Latinos supported Boxer, and comprised 22% of all voters1.

California, Governor – California State Attorney General Jerry Brown defeated former E-Bay CEO Meg Whitman, in a hard-fought battle for Governor. Many attribute Brown’s success among Latino voters – 64% according to one poll1 – to controversy surrounding Whitman’s stances on immigration.

1 2010 Midterm Election National Exit Poll (NEP)

• Will there be an impact from the Republican sweep – including Latino Republican legislators – on the future of policy issues important to Latinos?

• What will be the impact – if any – of the partisan composition of state legislatures and governorships on the redistricting process, and opportunities for Latinos?

• What will the role of the Latino voter be in the 2012 Presidential election, and beyond?

Looking Forward

Arturo VargasExecutive Director

NALEO Educational Fund1122 W. Washington Blvd., 3rd Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90015(213) 747-7606

www.naleo.orgwww.yaeshora.info