Abel Maldonado, the Republican iconoclast most recently famous for his brief stint as California’s appointed lieutenant governor and his unsuccessful run for Congress last year, is making noises about running for governor in 2014 against Jerry Brown. Will putting up a Latino face for the state’s top office reverse more […] Read more »
GOP’s Immigration Dilemma
After a drubbing at the hands of Hispanic voters in the 2012 election, many Republican lawmakers feel a new approach to immigration is required. And with a comprehensive immigration overhaul again front-and-center in Congress, some GOP leaders have embraced changes that provide a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. But […] Read more »
Obama Needs To Let Republicans Win Immigration Battle
In the wake of the defeat of gun control legislation, lots of DC-insiders are speculating that immigration reform will meet the same fate. The president doesn’t have the juice, they say, to muscle any sort of significant, complex legislation through Congress. That may or may not be true. But, what […] Read more »
Immigration reform won’t deliver a Latino voter ‘bonanza’ to Democrats
I have been quite skeptical about the ability of the Republican party to win over Latino voters. As others and I have noted, Latinos don’t vote Democratic just because of immigration policy. They vote Democratic because they are more ideologically “in sync” with the Democratic party. That’s why I’ve felt […] Read more »
Hispanic Voters: Rethinking the Faith & Family Paradigm
Republicans have become fond of saying in various forms: Hispanic voters should be with us because of our shared social values, or, we are the party of faith and family which are important to Hispanic voters. In our Hispanic voter focus groups, the value of family was center stage. It […] Read more »
Poll of undocumented immigrants reveals strong family and social connections in America
A new poll of Latino undocumented immigrants finds they have deep roots in America, with strong family and social connections to U.S. citizens, painting a portrait of a community that is very integrated into the American fabric, and hopeful of a chance to gain legal status and ultimately citizenship. … […] Read more »