As Hispanic Heritage Month draws to a close and with just three weeks until the elections, many are wondering how Latinos will influence the selection of the next president.
The visibility and influence of Latinos are growing in many parts of the country, particularly in Pennsylvania, for several reasons. According to recent statistics, of the 12 states with over a million Latinos, Pennsylvania has experienced the fastest growth in this population over the last decade. In the 2020 elections, Latino voter turnout increased significantly, and Pennsylvania stands out because the majority of its Latino population consists of legal residents.
Approximately 600,000 Latinos in Pennsylvania are expected to vote on November 5. In the last election, the state’s electoral votes were decided by a margin of just 82,000 ballots, suggesting a fierce contest for every vote.
Since the beginning of the year, both the Democratic and Republican parties, aware that Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes are crucial, have spent $180 million and $170 million, respectively, on advertising, according to a New York Times report released this week. However, many voters feel that such investments should be made differently, and not just during election season.
To win the Hispanic and Latino vote, it’s not enough to persuade through media ads, which often arrive late and aren’t always in Spanish. Printed materials detailing the candidates’ platforms have been limited, and the gap between both parties and the majority of Hispanic voters is evident. Many continue to express distrust in the government, whether Democratic or Republican, which partly explains their general apathy toward elections.
Latinos historically vote less than other groups, although this trend is beginning to change, as evidenced by the significant increase in newly registered Latino voters.
While this surge in voter registration is less noticeable in Pennsylvania, the emergence of a new “Latino belt,” stretching from the northeast of the state to the Lehigh Valley, is noteworthy. In cities like Allentown, the third-largest in the state, more than 54% of the population is Hispanic. In Reading, the fourth-largest, over 69% are Latino; and in Hazleton, more than 60%.
According to the Pew Research Center, Pennsylvania has more than 600,000 Latinos eligible to vote. But how many of them will actually cast their ballots?
How much political influence could Latinos truly have if they recognized their electoral potential?
In his recent book, Relentless: The Latin Spirit that is Transforming America, Luis A. Miranda, father of Lin-Manuel Miranda, argues for this potential “transformation,” noting that Latinos now number 65 million in the country and are projected to reach 80 million in the next decade. Forty years ago, Latinos were three distinct “islands”: Cubans in Florida, Mexicans in California, and Puerto Ricans in New York. Today, that reality has diversified and enriched with immigrants from Central America, as well as Dominicans, Venezuelans, Colombians, and others. Hispanics now have the potential to decide elections in many of the so-called “swing states.”
Despite Latinos’ positive impact on the U.S. economy, these contributions don’t align with the negative statistics they face. For example, for every dollar a white American earns, Latinas make only 54 cents. Households led by single Latina mothers are among the poorest in the country. Hispanics continue to have one of the lowest rates of Social Security enrollment, and while they make up 19% of the nation’s population, they are not represented proportionally in other areas. For instance, they account for 32% of the prison population.
For all these reasons, this Hispanic Heritage Month should leave a mark beyond pride and celebration. It’s crucial to drive an increase in Latino representation at the polls, in political leadership, and in advocacy for the interests of those who have been left behind.
