Latino Voters Could be Key Swing Vote in Fall

We’re just two days away from the May primary election. Whoever comes out on top in party races on Tuesday competes in the general election in November.

NewsChannel 21 talked with Greg Delgado, a local Latino community organizer, who says he’s undecided on which party to vote for — and he says he’s not alone.

The Latino population voted heavily in 2008.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 47 percent more Hispanic citizens voted in 2008 than in 2004.

A huge majority of those votes went to President Obama.

Latino community organizer Greg Delgado in Bend says that since then, the president has not done much for the community.

“Under this president, we’ve had more deportations than any other president,” Delgado said.

But Delgado is not impressed with the president’s Republican opposition.

“They do not have an agenda when it comes to immigrant rights. They do not understand when we talk about immigrant rights,” Delgado said.

That leaves Delgado undecided and facing a tough decision come November — a vote that both sides need in what could be a very close race for the White House.

“This swing vote here is how the Latinos vote, and right now neither side is at an advantage,” Delgado said.

Delgado is not the only one voicing that opinion, though. A recent March cover story in Time magazine had the headline “Yo Decido” and explained why they believe “Latino voters will swing the 2012 election.”

“This is showing Latinos, at least empowering Latinos that their vote does count,” Delgado said. “Because we are one of the fastest-growing minority communities in the nation.”

The magazine said Hispanics make up 16 percent of the U.S. population and are expected to account for 30 percent by 2050.

The issues important to Latinos: health care, jobs, immigration and locally, the in-state driver license issue.

“We have a lot of work to do to discuss this issue around Latino issues with our communities, and we’ve got to make sure we get the conversation going,” Delgado said.

Delgado has voted for candidates in both parties since he was able to vote, and believes politicans should be working for “we the people.”

“There’s a lot of people who refuse to talk to me or any parts of our community, and how can we vote for anybody that doesn’t want to talk to you?” Delgado said.

Delgado says it doesn’t matter who Latinos end up voting for — the most important thing is that they vote.