Where the Top Democratic Primary Candidates Stand with Latino Voters

Which of the Democrats will win over Latinos in the primaries? While it´s still not clear, there is one thing that is: the Latino vote could swing the Democratic primary. Although Latinos are not homogenous in their opinions on practically anything (abortion, immigration, religion, etc.), the Democrat who wins the Latino vote in the primary is likely to be the one who best denounces the racism that has swept the country under the Trump administration, an opinion that somehow manages to unify this diverse voting group. In a USA Today poll, 70 percent of Latino voters felt that Trump’s rhetoric has encouraged anti-immigrant sentiment, racism or discrimination in the U.S. 

As of early December, the Democratic presidential contest in California — a state that has tremendous sway in predicting the outcome of the primary across the nation — remains fluid. A poll for the Los Angeles Times found that both Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who was the frontrunner in California in September, and former Vice President Joe Biden, lost ground among California´s Democratic primary voters. This drop in votes gave Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who narrowly tops the primary field, a boost. It has also helped Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., who has doubled his support in the state since the last September poll. As for the controversial former mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg and his chances of seducing Latino voters in the next months, the odds are low. 

At this point in the race Latino, democratic voters are not sticking with a set candidate, but are still open to changing their opinions. So where do the candidates stand with Latino voters and their issues? Here´s a look at what the remaining candidates have been doing right and what they´ve been doing wrong to win their vote.

6Pete Buttigieg 

The Indiana mayor has consistently polled in single-digits among Latinos. “To turn this around, he needs advocates, and he needs Latino advocates in particular, who can come out, support him, and who can tell other Latinos to give this guy a chance,” Josh Ulibarri, a Democratic pollster who has focused on Latino voters, told Politico. “The hurdle is high for Latinos right now — we’re in a ‘protect our people’ mood, and I don’t think a 37-year-old mayor can [project] that.” 

The Winner Will Offer Aretha-Style REe-S-P-E-C-T

How will the Democrats effectively reach a population that the Pew Center projects will be the largest minority in the 2020 electorate?https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/essay/an-early-look-at-the-2020-electorate/The Latino potential remains untapped and it will continue to be so if Democrats do not get more creative in their outreach since it seems dropping a few Spanish words in their campaigns doesn´t work. The Latino electorate has always been complex and thus far it seems that no leading Democratic candidate has any idea of how to engage Latinos. 

For starters, native-born Latinos hold complicated views on immigration depending on their economic backgrounds. Opinions about U.S. involvement in foreign politics in Latin America also divide Latino voters. A study by the Pew Research Center in 2017 showed Latinos overwhelmingly ranked improvements in education on a list of top priorities. Second came a strong national defense against terrorist attacks. Third came a strong national economy. Fourth was reduced health care costs. Immigration was fifth on the five-item list. Ultimately, all Latinos are also looking to be given respect and to have respect for their Democratic candidate, especially in an era when you have a president who referred to some of us as criminals and rapists.

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