Will Latinos Ever Become Republican?

By Dr. Henry Flores, NewsTaco

This question is currently being debated, given the findings of a recent Latino Decisions’ poll indicating that the GOP would be viewed more favorably by Latinos if the Republican House leadership put immigration reform at the top of their agenda.  I guess the poll was taken before the current Republican leadership fell to such a level that all pundits are declaring that immigration reform is dead in the forthcoming legislative session.  Regardless, it makes for an interesting intellectual exercise to see what the Republicans can do to attract Latinos.

Are There Any Latinos Who Are Republican? 

This is really a silly question because the answer is yes.  There are some Latinos who vote for Republican Party candidates and do so religiously.  I don’t know why they would do such a thing, but they do.  Nevertheless, approximately 30% of all Latinos who have cast votes in presidential elections since 1980 have voted for Republican candidates.  Approximately 65%, on average, of all Latinos during the same time frame have supported Democratic Party candidates.  I’m not sure for whom or what the other 5% cast their votes, but given the quality of many of the candidates put forth by both parties over the years it would not surprise me if the 5% simply didn’t vote for anyone.

We do know that some Latinos are attracted to the Republican Party because they get elected to the United States Senate and House and many state-level offices under that party’s banner.  For instance, Senators Rubio and Cruz and House members Labrador, Flores, Herrera and Nuñes are all Latinos and Republicans.  They will tell you they are Republicans because they have the same ideological orientation as the party, conservative.

What Keeps Latinos From Supporting Republican Party Candidates?

 So, why do 65% of Latinos not support Republicans? We have so much in common.  Unlike Democrats we’re family oriented, highly religious, believe in entrepreneurship, and strongly patriotic – just like Republicans.  However, maybe, just maybe there are deep differences between the way Latinos and Republicans view the world.  Maybe, we just don’t want to speak one language all the time.  Speaking one language is boring, besides it inhibits your ability to be creative and also your ability to speak to an entire hemisphere of people.  Maybe, we want assistance in dealing with the ever increasing costs of health care or education for our children.  Maybe, we love our gay children and relatives and find it insulting when they are disparaged.  Maybe, we would like to see family planning services for those that want and need it.  Maybe, we want our two salaried families to have equal pay for both genders and don’t want to be sexually harassed in the work place.  Maybe, we want to live in a country where our children and our children’s children will flourish and prosper in their lifetimes.  Maybe, we want to see our country, for which many of us fought and died in countless wars, not be so unfriendly, cold, and inhuman to our relatives who come here seeking a better and safer life than they have in their countries of origin.

What Does the Republican Party Have to Do to Attract Latinos? 

Fundamentally, the answer to this question is simple—be nice to us and make us feel like we are welcome in and are part of this country.  The Republican Party’s stance on immigration policy sends the wrong message.  Although immigration reform is not the highest of our policy priorities, the way in which Republicans talk about immigrants and their positions regarding this policy area are simply horrible.  Who wants to associate with horrible people?

If Republicans want Latinos to join them they need to change their positions on the policy issues most important to Latinos.  We need and want healthcare, assistance with education, and equal opportunities in the fields of employment and voting.  We don’t want to be turned away at polling places, harassed for identification in public places or have our gay children and relatives treated as so much trash.

In short, if Republicans really and truly want to attract Latino voters they need to change their positions in a broad array of policy areas.  Frankly, if Republicans want to attract Latino voters they need to stop being Republicans!

[Photo by stevegarfield/Flickr]

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