Latino Representation in State Houses and Congress [Hardcover]

Examines the growth of the number of Latinos serving in US state legislatures and Congress in the past two decades.This book examines the growth of the number of Latinos serving in U.S. state legislatures and Congress in the past two decades. It analyzes the factors that help explain the election of Latinos to different legislative institutions and argues that we must look beyond simple demographics to explain their growing numbers. This book is the first major systematic analysis of Latino representation in legislative institutions, and it provides the benchmark for future research on the nation's fastest-growing population segment.This book examines the growth of the number of Latinos serving in U.S. state legislatures and Congress in the past two decades. It analyzes the factors that help explain the election of Latinos to different legislative institutions and argues that we must look beyond simple demographics to explain their growing numbers. This book is the first major systematic analysis of Latino representation in legislative institutions, and it provides the benchmark for future research on the nation's fastest-growing population segment.This book argues that Latino representation in U.S. legislative institutions is shaped not only by demographics but by legislative institutional design, as well as elite-driven methods, features of the electoral system, and the increasing mainstreaming of Latinos in American society. The election of Latino legislators in the United States is thus complex and varied. This book provides evidence on how successful Latinos have been in winning state legislative and congressional districts in which they have no natural advantage. In particular, this book demonstrates that Latino candidates benefit from higher percentages of Latino citizens in the state, more liberal citizenries, and citizen legislatures. Jason Casellas argues that the legislatures most conducive to the election of Latino candidates are Florida, New Mexico, andlã