Growing Hispanic Population Could Hurt Democrats Too

An increasingly non-white electorate could undermine support for the party, warns researcher

Much cyber-ink has been spilled detailing the trouble ahead for the GOP if certain demographic trends continue. Namely those involving Hispanics. But do Democrats have reason to worry about diversity too?

Researcher Ryan D. Enos, writing at the Washington Post, warns Democrats against getting too cocky about any inevitably Dem-friendly electorate on the horizon due to stronger minority support for their party.

But it's not because he questions whether minorities will support Democrats. Rather, Enos questions the loyalty of white voters toward team blue when faced with increasingly diverse neighbors. According to social science, Enos argues, localities that are more diverse create cleavages among differing ethnic groups that prompt a greater amount of voting, with each ethnic group voting for a different party.

To illustrate this effect, Enos cites a Chicago experiment that involved moving black public housing residents out of a near-northside neighborhood while the whites remained. Those white residents then cast their ballots in a more liberal fashion than they had before:

"After their African-American neighbors left," he writes, "fewer white residents turned out to vote, and voters became less likely to choose Republican candidates, whom they had previously supported at higher levels than had residents in other parts of the city."

He concludes: "As different groups come into contact, people have adverse reactions, and this can cause them to vote for a party that represents opposition to other groups; in today's electoral landscape, that might mean white Democrats more willing to vote Republican."

Via the Washington Post.

Do you think more white Democrats will vote Republican as the Hispanic population grows?

[zachsquatch]

In prisons there is race loyalty. As we "progress" I feel its only a matter of time before one becomes the party of this race and the other is the party of that race. Its already happening with the blacks and the D's.

[tomincali]

for some reason i don't see voters voting do to race,though we have seen it in the last 2 elections others like the idea of voting for those who have the same values regardless of race.

[NTBFW]

Would it be unreasonable to ask if its possible that Hispanics may have minds of their own? Could it be possible that they might have conservative and liberal voters? Is seems to me a bit racist to assume they will vote one way or another simply because they are Hispanic. I believe they are as diverse in their views as everyone else.

[Emerald1]

I think it depends on their view of illegals. My daughter in law is Hispanic and she and her family believe it is wrong for those here illegally be given preference over those still waiting for legal residency. I have also asked several Obama voters of my acquaintance what would make them change their mind about Obama and the answer was if he went for amnesty for those illegals already here.

[Yank]

Yet you ignore the historical trends that say otherwise.

[NTBFW]

@Yank no not at all. But that doesn't mean that they are always going to remain in lockstep with the past.

[methinks]

You also have to consider the Catholic factor in that Hispanics are primarily very conservative in their religious views.

[earl]

Sorry, Ma'am, I have to disagree. My wife is Hispanic and she says that the Hispanic community will vote in all Hispanics as their population increases. The Hispanic heritage is difficult to understand as is my wife sometimes.

[miketost]

We can go back and forth on these type of sites 24 7.At some point we must unite and find the path that will help us all to achieve our dreams.America is changing but only because we have fallen into the trap the government has set.

[Dan_Tien]

"To illustrate this effect, Enos cites a Chicago experiment that involved moving black public housing residents out of a near-northside neighborhood while the whites remained. Those white residents then cast their ballots in a more liberal fashion than they had before:"

What sort of "experiment" involves uprooting black people from their homes in order to see how the new all-white neighborhood votes? At best, this report is misstated.

[wonka45ACP]

The democratic voters will wake up and realize, we can't flood this country with immigrants for the purpose of a few million votes.

[earl]

The Democrats don't realize that when the Hispanic population gets larger( due to the illegals being made citizens by the Dems. for Dem. votes), they will clean house with the Dems. now in office.

[4PeteSake]

As the Republicans become more extreme in their views, they are alienating plenty of people of all races including Whites.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Please detail for me if you might, what are these extreme views that Republicans hold? I'm quite curious.

[kirbstomp1]

@Neo_NtheMatrix - using the sword before the pen, telling people who they can and cannot marry, complain and moan about social welfare but undermine that twice that amount is given to corporations, deregulating the banking sector; which caused the recession, and not wanting people to have abortions but then complain about all these kids that live off the government.

[kirbstomp1]

@kirbstomp1 - and I could name just as many problems with democrats; but you asked about republicans.

[hwyangel]

It's not all about skin color. For example:
On a single day in June, an Australian-Spanish partnership paid $3.8 billion to lease the Indiana Toll Road. An Australian company bought a 99-year lease on Virginia's Pocahontas Parkway, and Texas officials decided to let a Spanish-American partnership build and run a toll road from Austin to Seguin for 50 years.
And that doesn't include some major companies or free services like health and education. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming immigrants. It's all part of the plan.

http://www.conservative-daily.com/2012/10/19/...

[earl]

This Democratic Senate and president are the most extreme, socialist/ Marxist group in the history of the US. Surely you jest.

[bsking]

Well that was "taking the long way around" to admitting that the democrats know they are the true ravist party.

[Knightkore]

localities that are more diverse create cleavages among differing ethnic groups that prompt a greater amount of voting, with each ethnic group voting for a different party.

HEHEHEHE.....he said "cleavages".....

Seriously, why is it that progressive liberals insist on making race an issue?

[methinks]

This is yet another example of in intended consequences resulting from Progressive policies, in this case multiculturalism. Instead of pushing for cultural assimilation like we used to have, they compartmentalize ethnic groups and situations like this materialize. Keep up the good work, liberals; you keep shooting yourselves in the foot every time.

[RollinPapers]

Second that.

[earl]

Third that.

[Ryuo]

The Hispanic population will vote in their own self-interest, once they break free of the unions and ward heelers, and that is wonderful. The recent immigrants are known for hard work and strong families - who does that sound like?

[earl]

Eleven million of them are known to be illegal immigrant criminals and should have nada to say about American politics.

[GedankPol]

If one assumes that all Hispanics will stay in their socioeconomic level indefinitely. But they won't. Look at Cuban-Americans, they enjoy a reputation as being the most affluent, most assimilated, and best educated of the Hispanics in the USA, and they consistently overwhelmingly vote Republican. I for one would like to see more than 2 parties in the USA. That way, neither Democrats or Republicans will be able to play one segment of the population against another; and neither will take their constituencies for granted. Look also at the Vietnamese, who have taken advantage of educational and financial opportunities granted to them and have thrived and prospered. Education and assimilation are the keys to political and financial independence. You can assimilate without forgetting about 'where you came from' and still practice your customs, your religion, values, etc. in your home and with members of your community. Both of these groups, and the immigrants that came before them, have proven that.

[jessejaymes]

You people who live in less than Mexican overwhelmed states have no real concept of what is coming to you. The Mexican descent population will vote Democrat until they have the majority. Then they will throw the whites and black out and take over and there will be no Democrat party but in name only. There will be "Mexican politics".

In my entire life I have never encountered a more racist group of people than the Mexicans. They're racist against EVERYONE including non Mexican Latinos. Someone on here will come storming back saying they are married to a Mexican who is not racist and I'm full of it. Well I've watched Southern California change over nearly the past 50 years. They come here and the recreate another Mexico. Filth and violence everywhere. They sit in the stands at soccer games and throw drinks on whites and blacks and tell us to leave, that soccer is "their game". They drive round the city with horns blaring and flying huge Mexican flags out their windows. They claim racism if a cop even looks at them yet you as a white person or black person can't walk in a barrio at night without being robbed and you would be lucky to do so in daylight. Mexican gangs outnumber all other gangs combined in California.

"La Raza" means THE people and THE people are MEXICAN. They have no other agenda other than the dominance of Mexicans. You can't go to a Southern California beach today without encountering Mexican Gangs. Anything you have is fair game to be taken from "gringos and la negras" by Mexican gangs. They move into a neighborhood and immediately go to war with the blacks. Once they start getting money they war on the whites.

Every single California city that has gone bankrupt has been a Mexican run city. EVERY ONE. Welcome to the United States Of Mexico. Coming to your town sooner than later.

[earl]

You are spot on ,Jesse(for once). My esposa is Puerto Rican and she is in total agreement with your post as am I.

[jessejaymes]

@earl Well ya Know Earl even a blind dog finds a bone now and then.

[earl]

@jessejaymes LOL, exactly.

[jessejaymes]

@jessejaymes I have known Guatemalans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Cosa Ricans, El Salvadorians and South Americans from almost every country and have yet to find a Latino race that is even close to as racist as Mexicans. And the Mexicans are racist against all those I just named. They flat out don't like ANYONE except other Mexicans.

[earl]

@jessejaymes We have a lot of Mexicans in Georgia. When a group of them are speaking in Spanish, thinking that no one understands them, you should hear the vitriol spewing from them about Americans. When I ask them in Spanish to repeat what they said , they slink away. Mexicans, 99.9% of them, hate Americans .

[ErnestPayne]

With americans continuing to define themselves as hyphenated and being treated as "less american" by the republicans a shift to the crazies of the right wing is increasingly unlikely.

[Knightkore]

http://money.cnn.com/gallery/news/economy/201...

Who: Jesus Ramos, 43

Job status: Laid off

"I'm a Marine, so when it comes to leadership, management, whatever it is, I can do it," Ramos said. He blames the cuts and his job loss on President Obama, who he believes hasn't done enough to cut the federal budget in smarter ways.

[BelinKS]

You know that's a question that can't be answered. If Marco Rubio becomes the Republican candidate, do you really think Hispanic voters are going to vote against him? They are going to want to see a Hispanic in the White House. I'm speaking as an Hispanic. White Republicans usually don't jump ship. They believe in smaller government. Having the Republican candidate be Hispanic is not going to change that.

[earl]

A shift to the crazies on the left has already occurred.

[GuyFawkes]

Not likely at all.
Political views are interlaced with strong belief systems and emotion-
just because more Latinos begin voting Dem doesn't mean more Anglo Dems will begin to believe in the positions of the Republican Party.
A pro-choice advocate isn't going to simply become pro-life over the Hispanic turnout.

[BossTweed]

Naw. Whites abandoned their Country when they cowered while 14 million foreigners illegally settled in our Country. Those who still self identify as Democrats could not care less.

[Vance1]

Once Mexicans get Amnesty watch out!!! They will turn