Election Lesson: Latinos Have Influence

8602385866?profile=originalAs pundits continue to examine the outcome of various races and ballots cast Nov. 6, one persistent truth cannot be understated or ignored: the power of the Hispanic-American vote is growing, and this voting bloc's priority issues -- including education reform and school choice -- must be addressed by those elected into state and national offices.

A record 23.7 million Latinos were eligible to vote in the 2012 presidential election, up by more than 4 million from 2008, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center. Latinos comprise a greater share of the nation's eligible voters than they did just a few years ago -- 11 percent this year, up from 9.5 percent in 2008 and 8.2 percent in 2004.

Following this month's election, Latinos will serve in the state legislatures of 36 states across the country, with 70 Latinos serving as State Senators. The Arizona State House of Representatives now has 13 Latinos, up from eight. Latino legislators elected to serve in the California State Assembly now total 19, an increase of four. In Maine, voters elected their first Latino to the state House of Representatives.

Hispanic-Americans two weeks ago voted in record numbers, particularly in key battleground states including Florida, Ohio and Colorado. For example, Florida's presidential outcome was decided by Hispanic-heavy counties of Orlando, Broward, and Miami-Dade. READ MORE

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