Massive Latino Vote in Texas Gives Support to Democrats
For exit poll results, click here
Latino voters turned out in record-breaking numbers and voted overwhelming Democratic according to an exit poll conducted by the William C. Velásquez Institute (WCVI).
"Nearly one million Latinos cast votes, more than doubling the previous record for Latino votes cast", said Antonio González, WCVI president, "Latinos turned out at a rate of 39.9%, slightly better than the statewide average and represented 21.8% of all votes cast. Both percentages are record highs for Texas Latinos in an off-year election.
Latino Turnout in Texas Gubernatorial Elections
1994-2002
(numbers in thousands)
Latino Vote in Texas
(figures in the thousands) |
|
1994 |
1998 |
2002 |
|
Latino Total |
Latino Share |
Latino % Rate |
Latino Total |
Latino Share |
Latino % Rate |
Latino Total |
Latino Share |
Latino % Rate |
Texas |
447 |
10.2% |
32.4% |
473 |
12.7% |
26.7% |
998 |
21.8% |
39.9% |
Sources: WCVI Turnout Studies, 1994 - 2002
"The heavily Democratic voting pattern among Latinos may end the emerging trend of growing Republicanism among Latinos in Texas", continued González. "The Sanchez-Kirk "Dream team" ticket clearly motivated heavy Latino Democratic performance. The turnout in South Texas and in the border counties appeared more like presidential year turnout than in an off-year", remarked Gonzalez.
Tony Sanchez, the Democratic candidate for Governor gathered 87% of the Latino vote, Ron Kirk, the Senate nominee gathered 76%, and John Sharp, the Democratic standard-bearer for Lieutenant Governor gathered 85%.
Latino Partisanship in Texas Gubernatorial Elections
1994-2002
(figures in the thousands) |
| |
2002 |
1998 |
1994 |
Dem |
Rep |
Dem |
Rep |
Dem |
Rep |
Governor |
87 |
10 |
61 |
39 |
76 |
24 |
Senate |
76 |
19 |
- |
- |
71 |
29 |
Lt. Governor |
85 |
10 |
70 |
29 |
- |
- |
Attorney General |
- |
- |
73 |
25 |
88 |
9 |
Congressional Preference |
77 |
17 |
79 |
21 |
- |
- |
"The Democratic ticket got wiped out across Texas, but it is apparent that Latinos and Blacks voted heavily for them. The only conclusion is that white Democrats and white swing voters did not vote for the minority -led Democratic ticket", concluded González.
The William C. Velasquez Institute is a nonpartisan research and policy organization based in Los Angeles and San Antonio. The exit poll and turnout study covered 31 precincts across Texas and interviewed 838 Latino voters for a margin of error of 3.0%.
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