Latino Voters: It’s Time to Wake Up

By A. Govea

For as long as I can remember, I’ve heard people talk about the “Sleeping Giant” — La Raza — that would one day rise and reshape government from city hall all the way to Washington, D.C.

For decades, experts pointed to the growing number of Latino voters and the millions of young Latinos who would reach voting age within ten years. And they were right: our numbers did grow into real potential power. According to Pew Research, Latinos are one of the fastest‑growing segments of the U.S. electorate, and unlike the White population, more of our people are born than die. The writing is on the wall.

Pero, that power has not yet been fully realized. Yes, we’ve made advances — and I believe the late champion of voter mobilization, Willie Velásquez, would be proud of how far our community has come. But have we earned the kind of political respect — or fear — commanded by the Black voting bloc? I would say no. And the proof is simple: look at who occupies the White House, and how he was elected twice.

I won’t waste space retelling a story you already know. Suffice it to say, he insulted our ancestral roots and empowered an ICE force that used Gestapo‑like tactics to hunt immigrant people who look like us.

What’s worse? Many in our own community helped elect him — twice.

So, the question becomes: Why?

Let’s consider some common reasons:

• Party loyalty at all costs

• Identity politics

• “He’s tough like me”

• Social influence and the need for acceptance

• Lack of education leading to single‑issue voting (like abortion)

• Cultural and religious values

These factors exist in every community, but there is another one that hits especially close to home for us.

Some in our community desperately seek acceptance from the larger White community — even if that acceptance only grants them the status of “the one good Mexican.” They don’t realize that the best they can hope for in that dynamic is a kind of pet status. It may sound harsh, but I’ve seen it, and I genuinely feel sorry for them.

Still, every person has the right to vote for whomever they choose, for whatever reason they choose. My goal — and the work we are committed to doing — is to ensure that every voter has access to trustworthy, accurate information about candidate claims.

We are not here to tell you who to vote for. We are here to help you become an informed voter.

Beginning this month, Hola Texas will provide fact‑checking resources and voter information to help you make informed decisions. You can start with the links below and look for our full voter guide in the July print issue.

Fact‑Checking Resources:

• www.FactCheck.org

• www.FactCheck.org (en Español)