© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

What the Latino Surge Means for Politics and Policy

The statistics about the growing Latino population are startling. According to the most recent census, the Latino population in Connecticut is growing 12 times faster than the general population (which had very little growth at all).  

Today on Where We Live, we talked about how this increase is affecting politics and policy across the nation and in Connecticut. Nationally, more Hispanics are being born in the country than are immigrating here. This was not the case in the 80s and 90s, said Mark Hugo Lopez who runs the Pew Hispanic Center. (The “Hispanic Trends Project” at Pewhas some great maps tracking population changes.)

Credit pewhispanic.org

Lopez said that in the 2012 elections, 11.2 million Hispanics voted. That’s a turnout rate of 48 percent. And while this is a record number for Latinos, they continue to lag behind other ethnic groups like whites and African-Americans. One reason, Lopez said, is that the Latino population is very young; Many of them voting for the first time. By 2030, there will be 40 million Latinos of voting age.  “That’s a big potential for the Hispanic vote moving forward, and one that’s only going to grow as we go through the presidential election cycles,” he said.

Werner Oyanadel from the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission (LPRAC) said that in Connecticut there are 240,000 Latinos eligible to vote. In the last election, only 50 percent got out to the polls.  He said lawmakers are starting to pay attention to this growing population, especially as they see an increase in the voting potential. “Elected officials from all political spectrums… are going to begin to pay more specific attention to those needs.” Needs, he said, that include education, self sufficiency, discrimination, health, and public safety - all areas of focus for the LPRAC.

Isaias Diaz is a lawyer, and chairman of the LPRAC. He said education needs to be the main focus right now. “It’s a disgrace,” he said, noting that Connecticut is dead last in the country for Latino students 4th through 8th grade in reading and math. “That’s the core and the cornerstone of a sound education. For us to be dead 50th in a small state like Connecticut is pretty pathetic.”   

When it comes to Latinos being elected to state politics, Connecticut has a poor track record as well.  State Senator Andres Ayala is the first Latino senator, elected this past November.  “The state of Connecticut had a history of absolutely no participation whatsoever of Latinos in the state senate,” he said, “and last year alone we broke it and we broke it on both sides of the aisle.”  Ayala was elected alongside Art Linares, a Republican.  Ayala says it’s hard for Latinos to work their way up in state politics. “There really isn’t a Latino agenda within either party to promote Latinos working their way up the ranks. Essentially what it becomes is a lot of grassroots organizing… and really working the constituency.”

Listen to the entire broadcast here. Ayala and Lopez will both take part in an upcoming panel at Trinity College

Catie Talarski is Senior Director of Storytelling and Radio Programming at Connecticut Public.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content