DNC Statement on Ciro Rodriguez Victory

“emocratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement in response to Ciro Rodriguezs win in Texas 23rd District:

“Congratulations to Ciro Rodriguez for running a strong and successful campaign in Texas 23rd district. Rodriguez defeated a seven-term Republican and added another seat to the Democratic majority. With the help of Texas Democrats, voters won a hard fought victory in the courthouse and the ballot box. Democrats successfully fought back Republican partisan redistricting attempts which disenfranchised Hispanic voters. As a result voters had a turn to have their voices heard by going to the polls and giving Ciro Rodriguez a decisive victory. Rodriguezs message of hope and optimism proved that when Democrats stand up for our values, we can and will win anywhere in the country.

“Yesterdays election was not just a victory for Democrats, but for the people of Texas as well. We welcome Ciro Rodriguez as the newest member of the Democratic Congress and are glad he will be part of the fight to change our country and put power back in the hands of the American people.”"

• In the 8 states poised to gain congressional seats, Latino voter registration grew 45% and Latino voter turnout expanded 50% between 2000 and 2008. – In the 11 states poised to lose seats, Latino voter registration grew 50% and Latino voter turnout expanded 62% between 2000 and 2008.
• State elections official fired after poking fun at Spanish-speaking voters – Texas
• Greater civic engagement will make Latinos a political force – This year’s elections in key Massachusetts cities have marked some important milestones for Latinos.
• Republican Party courting Latinos in Nevada (and elsewhere)
• The New Latino Vote Under Obama – A Rift Between 2008 Latino Obama Supporters and the Republican Party.
• NY village gets new voting system to aid Hispanics – A federal judge imposed an unusual election system on a suburban village Friday
• Low Latino voter turnout in NJ and VA elections reveal a return to the old ways
• Hispanic Voter Turnout Remains Low – voter turnout rate of just 21% in Yakima, WA
• The Corzine campaign is airing a television ad unveiled over the weekend that features President Obama telling viewers in Spanish that the future of New Jersey is in their hands — “El futuro de Nueva Jersey esta en tus manos,” the president says.
• New York City Latino Voter Forums Reveal Poor Quality Candidate Outreach
• Hispanics the focus of early push to register – Nevada hand-picked for initiative because of demographic’s clout – (I guess it is never to early)
• Florida Sen. Mel Martinez’s Departure Leaves GOP Floundering With Hispanic Voters
• Latino and Asian Clout in the Voting Booth Newly Released Census Data Underscores Growing Power of Ethnic and Minority Voters
• Hispanic Voters And Leaders Exploring Oregon Politics
• With Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa out of the governor’s race, the two leading candidates (Gavin Newsom y Jerry Brown) have amped up efforts to woo the critical Latino vote in next June’s gubernatorial Democratic primary.
• GOP Grilling of Sotomayor: No Hit with Hispanic Voters
• One of the big bonuses Democrats enjoyed this year was a surge of support among Hispanic voters, a surge larger than the party would have dared to dream of just a couple of years ago. Now, one of the biggest questions Democrats face is whether hardening attitudes toward immigration, aggravated by hard economic times and rising unemployment, will push the party down paths that could undercut that Hispanic support, much as hardening rhetoric undermined Hispanic support for Republicans in the past two years.
• Hispanic voters helped turn Florida blue for president-elect Barack Obama, but not all of them are cheering. Many Colombian, Cuban and Venezuelan immigrants who voted Republican are nervous about what comes next.
• Latino voters bolted to Obama in key states after McCain dropped own immigration reform plan
• Between 2004 and 2008, Hispanic voters INCREASED as a percentage of the electorate in the following battlegrounds: AZ (+4), CO (+5), IA (+2), IN (+2), MI (+1), MN (+2), MO (+1), MT (+3), NV (+5), NH (+1), NM (+9), NC (+2), ND (+2), OH (+1), PA (+1), SD (+3), VA (+2), WV (+3), and WI (+1). Between 2004 and 2008, Hispanic voters DECREASED as a percentage of the electorate in the following battlegrounds: FL (-1), GA (-1), NJ (-1)