California’s Recall Election-A Post Mortem Roundtable
Leaders will Strategize on New Administration after Latino Vote splits on
both Recall and Replacement elections
Los Angeles, California- A cross-section of Latino leadership with conduct a roundtable discussion that analyzes the recall election, Latino voting trends, and dialogues on strategies useful in dealing with the Republican Governor-elect. The Friday night session from 6:00-8:30pm is part of the William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI)’s annual Latino Issues Conference on October 10-11, 2003 at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel, 168 S. Los Robles, in Pasadena, California.
Participating in the Recall Postmortem Roundtable will be:
· California Senator Gil Cedillo
· California Assemblyman Fabian Nunez
· Center for the study of Los Angeles, Fernando Guerra
· Telemundo Anchor Mirtala Salinas
· Los Angeles Times Editor Frank Del Olmo
· La Opinion Political Columnist Maria Pilar Marrero
· WCVI President Antonio Gonzalez
· MALDEF Vice President Vibiana Andrade
This conference will bring together leaders a community advocates together to strategize about the best ways to work with the newly elected Schwarzenegger Administration, how to mobilize for the 2004 presidential race and to discuss what’s at stake for the Latino community and other Californians.
“ We now have to do what we can to mobilize our communities and prepare them for 2004, at the same time we have to figure out how to best work with Governor-elect Schwarzenegger. While the campaign exposed large disagreements between us, our community is too important for him to overlook. Latino leaders will look for areas of constructive engagement with Mr. Schwarzenegger,” said Antonio Gonzalez, president of the Willie C. Velasquez Institute.
Other components of the conference include; a Friday evening reception, a Saturday luncheon, workshops and roundtable discussions. For more information or to register for the WCVI 2003 Latino Issues Conference please visit the wcvi.org website or call 323-222-2217.
According to a WCVI turnout study, Latinos cast a record number of votes in the recall election compared to other special and gubernatorial elections. Yet turnout lagged below the state average, similar to the 2002 elections.
Moreover, Latinos were divided. Nearly half voted for the recall according to exit surveys and support for Latino Democratic Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante was modest at about 60%. “Latinos felt torn. On the one hand, real dissatisfaction with Sacramento, the unpopular Governor Davis, tax hikes and the economy fueled critical feelings towards the Democrats –the party that traditionally gathers 70-85% of the Latino vote in California. On the other hand, a poorly run campaign by Bustamante fraught with missteps, and deep-going divisions among Democratic Party and Latino leaders disillusioned many Latino voters. Together Republicans Arnold Swarzenegger and Tom McClintock gathered about 40% of the Latino vote in this ‘perfect storm’ context, despite their anti-immigrant rhetoric,” analyzed WCVI president Antonio Gonzalez.
California Latino Voter Performance, 1994-2003
Year |
Total Voter Registration |
Latino Voter Registration |
Share of Total Voter Registration |
Total Votes Cast |
Total Turnout |
Latino Votes Cast |
Share Total Votes Cast |
Latino Turnout |
1998 |
14,969,185 |
2,104,694 |
14.1% |
8,617,649 |
57.6% |
1,161,955 |
13.5% |
55.2% |
2002 |
15,303,469 |
2,552,000 |
16.7% |
7,535,128 |
49.2% |
991,053 |
13.2% |
38.8% |
2003 |
15,380,536 |
2,511,648 |
16.3% |
9,100,000* |
59.2% |
1,183,679 * |
13.0% |
47.1%* |
The WCVI, chartered in 1985, is a nonpartisan, non-profit, Latino-oriented research and policy think tank with offices in San Antonio, Texas and Los Angeles, California. More information on the Latino vote can be obtained at www.wcvi.org. |
