Florida Democrats Struggle to Connect with Hispanic Voters
- Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:17pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Florida Democrats have seen their registration numbers swell in recent years, due in large part to a surge in Hispanic voters.
But despite their success on paper, state Democratic officials are struggling to connect with Hispanics, who have little representation among the party’s Florida leadership. That could spell trouble not just for the future of the party in a state that’s now nearly a quarter Latino, but also for President Barack Obama and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who will be counting on Latino support during tough races next year.
“There’s no bench here. Democrats don’t cultivate Hispanic leaders,” said Freddy Balsera, who heads a Hispanic-focused public relations firm in Miami and serves on the Democratic National Committee’s finance team.
That’s a problem for the party statewide but especially true in South Florida, where Cuban exiles have long been loyal to the Republican Party and have built their influence over decades. The list of high-level Republican GOP Hispanics includes U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, South Florida’s three members of Congress and state House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera. The run-off for Miami-Dade County mayor pitted two Republican Cuban-Americans against each other.
Meanwhile, only three Latino Democrats serve in the state House, none in the Senate. And as the state begins the process of redrawing political boundaries to conform with population changes since 2000 — which will likely lead to at least one new heavily Hispanic congressional seat — Democratic party officials have been slow to respond.
Joe Garcia, a past head of Miami-Dade Democrats and former Obama appointee who ran unsuccessfully for Congress last year, said Republicans have been more aggressive in going after Latino voters.
“The Republican Party views Hispanics in terms of market share: Who are they? How do we reach them? Democrats still view us in terms of quotas,” Garcia said.
Florida Hispanics, like Latinos nationwide, provided overwhelming support in 2008 for Obama thanks to a national get-out-the-vote effort. Since December of that year, 73,000 have registered in the state as Democrats and another 76,000 have registered while declaring no party. There have been 31,000 new Hispanic Republicans.
The growth in Democratic voters has come in part from younger, more progressive Cuban Americans and a wave of Puerto Ricans and other Latinos.
But that didn‘t help Florida Democrats in last year’s election, as turnout of their Hispanic members dropped sharply — even more than among other Democratic voters — according to party leaders. It was one reason why the Democrats lost races for governor and U.S. Senate as well as other statewide contests.
For Democratic Hispanic Caucus leader Jose Fernandez in Orlando, that drop came as no surprise. The Army veteran recalled how Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink bought few Spanish-language ads and toured a local Puerto Rican community center only weeks before the election, when narrowly lost.
“People still thought she was a man with a name like Alex,” he said. “We don’t work like that. We have to see people, hear them.”
The Democrats’ challenge in Florida comes as the party expects to do well again nationally with Latinos in 2012, in part because of GOP attacks on the immigration issue.
But Hispanics in Florida are somewhat of an anomaly. Cubans, who make up the majority, are generally allowed to stay in the country as soon as they touch U.S. soil, and Puerto Ricans are already citizens. Among the state’s growing South and Central American communities, many have yet to be naturalized.
Patrick Manteiga, publisher of a trilingual Tampa newspaper (Spanish, English and Italian), said the party needs to reach out to new leaders like those at the region’s thriving Hispanic churches, many of them evangelical.
“The pastors may be conservative Republicans, but there are many Democrats among their congregants,” he said.
Scott Arceneaux, executive director of the state Democratic party, said the party is trying to improve outreach, but he conceded his party could take a page from the Republicans when it comes to Hispanics.
“They have absolutely done a better job than we have,” he said. “It’s finding young school commissioners, your business and community leaders. You’ve got to identify those people and help bring them along.”
Earlier this year, Florida Democrats hired a Puerto Rican community activist from Orlando to head Hispanic outreach efforts. But the party declined to make her available to The Associated Press for an interview.
Luis Garcia, one of the party’s three state representatives, said he’s urged the Democrats to hire someone to do similar work in South Florida.
“Where we have been failing, is that we have not been attracting the younger voters,” said Garcia, a retired fire chief who is being courted to run for Congress against embattled South Florida Republican David Rivera.
Arceneaux blames the lack of elected Hispanic Democrats on districts created a decade ago by the Republican-controlled Legislature following the 2000 Census. But as the state gears up again for redistricting, local Democrats have missed key opportunities.
In Orange County, many Puerto Ricans were angered when officials failed to appoint any to a redistricting committee even though they make up a third of the county. Local Democrats were slow to react to the flap, even though Puerto Ricans tend to support them.
Similarly, in neighboring Hillsborough County, it took a New York-based Latino civil rights group from New York to help propose a county commission redistricting map that accurately reflected Hispanic growth. The mostly Republican commission nixed that map during a recent hearing. Local Democratic leaders were largely absent, attending their monthly meeting.
At the national level, the Obama campaign has set up Spanish-language phone banks in Florida and is planning a grass-roots organizing meeting later this month.
But Fernandez and others say engagement with Latinos should be about more than electing a Democratic president every four years.
Amy Mercado, chair of the Orange County Democrats, said she wants to see people in office like herself “who may be Hispanic, who are married and have to juggle and still do it all.”
But she added: “They’re not going to field a candidate just because it has a Hispanic name. I’m a Hispanic, Latina, but I’m a Democratic Latina. I‘d rather have someone who’s really going to push Democratic ideals than just have someone whose Hispanic or Latina.”
She said the party is beginning to recognize people like herself, but that Hispanic Democrats also need to demonstrate they can act independently.
She should know. Last year, Mercado, a manager for the National Mango Board, ran a $64,000 maiden campaign against the powerful Florida House speaker, a Republican. With less than $2,000 in cash and $5,000 worth of in-kind contributions from the party, she won 40 percent of the vote.
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Comments (75)
mrmikejohnson
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:50pmWatch the AP’s political stories over the next year and half. 95% of them will be written from the perspective of the democratic party.
Report Post »clingingtogodandguns
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:48pmThe dummycrats thought they could just offer a hand out {welfare,food stamps, etc} and all Latinos would fall in line.All Latinos i know are hard working god loving families.This is legal and non legal.They want a hand up not a hand out.They won’t to work and make their way.It is to hard to come here legally i agree with that.Instead of them paying thousands of dollars to a guy to sneak them across what if they put that toward their citizenship.We need better laws not amnesty.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:46pm.
Report Post »It”s because they don’t want to end up like Black America!!! Slaves are not free and Black American’s cannot stand on their own. Take away their Welfare & Food Stamps and RIOT”S in every city in the county. This is the direct result of decades of “Vote for Me” and I’ll give you ……
CatB
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:37pmI too voted for Rubio!
TEA!
Report Post »jorge_washington
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 11:03amA lot of Latinos in S FL voted for Rubio solely because he is Latin. Of course a great many of these voters are elderly. Yet don’t dare say anything about taking away their SS or MC. I wonder what they think of Rubio since he voted to basically kill Medicare under the republican budget plan and give the saving to the rich. They don’t have to worry but their children and grand kids will.
Then we have governor Rick Scott of Fl who has:
Cut government workers
Killed high speed rail
Makes new government workers & those receiving state aid take drug tests (lawsuit pending)
Cut weeks of unemployment from 26 to 23
Makes it easier for employers to challenge unemployment benefits even after a worker has been laid off
Removed the discount one got by getting a SunPass for toll roads
Makes it much harder to sue for wrong doing
Attempted to close down the Florida Highway Patrol
Cuts service to the poor, infirmed, elderly and children
Given all the saving in the form of tax cuts to the rich
This is why Scott has about a 27% approval rating in the state. Of course to be fair, Scott could have down all this alone. He had a help from the republican controlled FL legislature.
Questioning with BOLDNESS
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:36pmTwo words for you … MARCO RUBIO (R-FL) …
TEA!
Report Post »adastra2005
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:34pmDemocrats treat Latinos as they do all different “groups” of Americans . . . shuffle them around and sacrafice when necessary like pawns on a chess board.
Report Post »michaelmoron
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:24pmI am a White Tea Party Libertarian who voted for Rubio. There is another piece of evidence debunking the liberals that say the Tea Party is racist. That is a misguided generalization.
Report Post »orlandojon
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:09pmThe bottom line? Florida has Hispanics from countries other than Mexico and are for the most part self supporting and do not depend on government
Report Post »EdBoo
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:06pmI’ve felt these last few years that Hispanics as a group work so hard and give up so much just to get here and stay here. They don’t want to be associated with so many in the black community which are focused on government freebies – how to get them and how to keep them coming. It’s cradle to grave welfare expectations for them.
Hispanics can only hold their noses so long just like the whites and Asians. They work darn hard “as a group” to distinguish themselves from blacks. It’s a sad story. Hispanics see this and understand this and don’t want to be lumped into the same bucket.
Hispanics can also see who helped the blacks get where they are and are keeping them there. Liberal Democrats see them only as votes and votes only. It’s with you all the way just across the bay, etc. all over again. Once the election is over they get a few more highly touted freebies (crumbs?) and are expected to tow the line in the interim.
You would think the black community would wise up but doesn’t look like that is going to happen. Ditto for the libs, their candidates and the DNC. And, I hope they don’t We need to get Obama and his cast of incompetents out of DC before they wreck anything else.
Hispanics can thank their faith, a strong family unit and pride in themselves.
Report Post »Eyeball
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:06pmThe Democrats advocate open borders with Mexico. This will take away most all jobs from blacks and hispanics.
Report Post »jmgair
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:00pmDemocrats have ALWAYS pandered to the latino vote and after they get it they kick them to the curb and treat them as underlings. Republicans have ALWAYS elevated latino’s in their party and elect or appoint them to serve in higher offices and never have forgotten them for their support. It is disgusting to listen to Obama try to be one of them during his never ending campaigning, does anone remember him celebrating Cinco de Quatro ?? Nuff said…
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:51pmReelection – that’s the only goal of the run-of-the-mill politician. Which is why TERM LIMITS are a necessity, even in the Supreme Court.
Report Post »ShyMan
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:47pmNo le gustan los dumbocrats?
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:46pmHey demonrats, here is a solution to your problem :
Report Post »load all illegals and their anchor babies in AZ, GA, IN etc , onto trains and buses , and settle them in FL.
FL has welfare too, right ?
See! problem solved !!
teddrunk
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:42pmLatino’s are more religious. Not the phony social justice baby killing Democrat religion, but real religion. They’re more attracted to people who attend real churches and have no problems praying publicly.
Report Post »FANGS
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:37pmHere’s The difference. Black people have been played like zombies and totally dumbed down by the public school system. On the other hand Hispanics know value, Freedom, Religion, work ethic and street smarts. Hispanics know that Republican leaders are the only way they will prosper and have a happy life for them and their family’s.
Report Post »ofallon
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:32pmThe field is ripe for the harvest and Republicans should figure out how to win them over. Hispanics are pro-life and pro-family. That would be a good starting point.
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:31pmCould it be that mexicans that use birth control dont need OR want the liberal gimmees
Report Post »Bermuda Onion
Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:16amWhen the democRATS say Latinos they think that Latino means ONLY Mexicans, Guatemalans ans El Salvadorans,Brazilians they don’t see the Cubans, Spanish and so on. Conservative Latino groups for the most part are here legally and don’t want or need the handouts as they are hard working and have shame.
See, democRATS need to compartmentalize their little groups and hand outs accordingly.
Report Post »me85
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:31pmThat’s why I wish we would have term limits on congress as well as the supreme court.
Report Post »Bald1
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 12:44amWe do have term limits…WE VOTE! Congressional terms are for 2 or 4 years, Presidential is four year term. It is nothing more then being lazy and uninformed. When was the last time you called or wrote your Congressional Representative? Have you voiced your opinion to them? Have you ever read a proposed Bill before the US House or Senate? Do you get all the information you need from the main stream media? Again, it is nothing more then being lazy and uninformed.
I follow what my Representative and Senators are doing. What their platform was and have they lived up to what they said they were going to try and do on our behalf. Have they supported and represented the peoples interest, or have they interjected their own views and values.
Yes, we can fire them at the ballot box. And on the other hand, we can support those that hold our values and views. There is no reason to have term limits. Term limits can be very harmful too. What happens if you have a great person representing you, and their term limit comes up? Is there someone equal to take their place, (if they were better, they would have replaced them already). It is like going for the second or third string…sometimes there are no choices.
Report Post »me85
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:29pmYeah, you know the reason why is because they want to be reelected that’s the only thing the politicians care about, to reelected.
Report Post »jmbogstad
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:28pmDemocrats are the real Racists, that is all they ever think of. It never even enters a Republicans mind, what the color of a person’s skin is, untill Democrats start yelling Racism, when they don’t get there way. We would rather make funny videos, and make fun of ourselves, like this video:
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On8eTIqhqRE
Skee
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:27pmThe democrats are to busy smearing oil on themselves and wearing thongs on South Beach to run for congress. I’m glad I was able to cast my vote for Rubio. He’s not a Col. Allen West but we could’ve done alot worse.
Report Post »adastra2005
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:31pmRubio is a great American. Not a “we could have done a lot worse”.
Report Post »joe conservative
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:25pmCertainly Marco Rubio has brought awareness of the conservative principles to the Florida hispanic community. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn__rVWG65A
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:24pmObama lets illegals stay and Americans rot in Mexican prisons… And Florida struggles with hispanic voters. Well I say, what gives them the right to vote if they are not American citizens?? We need another 4 years of Obama like we need a hole in the head!
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:23pmLatinos are also CONSERVATIVE RELIGIOUS FAMILY people too.
Report Post »Progressives don’t understand that because they are RACIST
abbygirl1994
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:26pmWe are not racist, but want Illegal Mexicans to come legally, not by night or sneaking across the border. Liberals will never get that!
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:26pmThey like to think that all Latino’s are poor impressionable saps that would always vote DEMOCRAT if they wanted the government to take care of them. But latino’s fooled them again. They are a proud people NOT looking for a handout like the progressives would think
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:50pmEricofthe state… are you nuts?? Mexican illegals have been ripping this country off for decades..
Report Post »Restoreamericanow
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:30pmThank God for smart Hispanics!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:20pmThe dim dems are running out of ice cream to buy votes.
Report Post »TheCenturion
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:23pmDemoncrats are going to have a hard time connecting with ANYONE for a long time, unless the d.c. republicans blow their opportunity.
More TEA please.
Report Post »Edct
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:45pmWho cares about the stupid cubans and mexs…they can’t even speak our language
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 12:53amTHANKS TO PEOPLE LIKE RUBIO AND RACIST PEOPLE THE DEMOCRATS:
Rubio shows the great connection Hispanics and conservatism, more than being a Republican.
He just gave his maiden floor speech and knocked their socks off: http://tiny.cc/qymsq
He gave a speech about fixing Medicare, something to means something: http://tiny.cc/dkaak
He stood up against someone that hasn’t helped hispanics whatsoever: http://tiny.cc/9rq0y
Then Harry Reid had to attack him and tell him, Remember who you are… : http://tiny.cc/yayuq
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 2:49amThat’s because the only thing that Democrats stand for anymore is…. giveaways. Hispanics are very religious and hard working additions to the fabric of America, well, at least the legal ones. They know that there is NO future in living on the dole just waiting for that next hand-out. They totally understand the American dream, and they know they won’t find it in the Democrats.
Give the left a giant middle finger.
Report Post »Help us draft Allen West… http://www.AMillionGoWest.com
Marci
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 2:55amDemocrats do not understand that these people (or their families) came here to escape what they are proposing. Hispanics also know they are merely a number for the Democrats—another vote. And the gerrymandering of the districts annoys me. In the meantime, the Dems are still working fiercely for another replay of Al Franken by way of the SOS project. *Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything.*
Hint…this would be the time for those of you hell bent on partisan politics and “sticking it to conservatives” to wake up and realize that your side doesn’t always have control–and sometimes, even when you think they do, they are inhabited by progressives, not Dems——and that the tides change every 4-8 years. Whatever sham legislation you support today purely on partisan politics, class warfare, or your own special brand of America hatred can be in the other sides hand one day. Then what?
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:17amThe Hispanics in FL are smarter than to be fooled by a group that only cares about them at election time. Bill Nelson has done nothing except vote the party line in Congress, and even threw his mother-in-law under the bus with the healthcare bill. It is time for elected officials to do what is best for the economy of FL, including off shore drilling, and with Scott (so far) we seem to be making headway.
Report Post »jorge_washington
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 10:25am“Latinos are also CONSERVATIVE RELIGIOUS FAMILY people too.
Progressives don’t understand that because they are RACIST”
RACIST are those individuals that:
Were OK when the white Christian man (Bush) raised the debt ceiling 7 times when in office
Say President Obama hates white people because he once called the specific actions of white police officers as stupid
Attend rallies where 97% of the attendees are from one particular race, religion and political ideology to protest against a black President
Carry signs at rallies portraying President Obama as Hilter, Stalin, a monkey, Muslim, witch doctor and the like
Racism is not a white thing it is a human thing.
Questioning with BOLDNESS
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 11:20amHere’s the thing HOW do you cultivate voters because of RACE?? Just because I am WHITE does NOT mean that I listen to a WHITE person just because we are the same color.. or nationality.. it’s the MORAL and VALUES issue.. and the DEMOCRATS don’t have any.. MOST nationality believe in helping family and friends.. NOT the government doing it..they beleive in being free keeping their money to do just that NOT the government taking what they work for.. and most of all.. Latino’s.. Italians.. etc.. are for the most part CHRISTIANS.. and the DEMOCRATS have allowed GOD to be taken OUT of everything therefore their MORALS nor their VALUES match.. Listening is only 1/2 the battle.. walking the walk is the rest.. beleive this or not only 20% of the populace have the values of PROGRESSIVES.. the other 80% have NO idea what the heck the PROGRESSIVES stand for..except picking the pockets of those that work..
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