Article: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/05/01/historic-highs-in-2018-voter-turnout-extended-across-racial-and-ethnic-groups/

This article discusses how the number of Latino voters reached 11.7 million in 2018, nearly doubling the 6.8 million that came out in 2014. In addition, new data reveals this was the second-highest Latino voter turnout ever. The only year that surpassed this statistic was the 2016 Presidential Election. Considering it was only a midterm election in 2018, the article states how the dramatic increase in Latino voters can be attributed to immigration becoming a larger issue in recent years. As a result, Latinos are clearly more inclined to vote. Furthermore, the article adds another interesting statistic: Hispanics were the most likely to cast their vote early than any other group. The issue of immigration is certainly having an impact on Latino voter turnout.

Discussion:

  1. To what extent do you think the increase in xenophobic rhetoric from President Trump and his followers has influenced this rise in Latino voter turnout?
  2. What other influencers discussed in this week’s readings could have caused more Latinos to participate in the 2018 midterm elections?