New Mexico will be among a handful of primary states voting next Tuesday, and one of the leading non-partisan Latino organizations predict Latinos will have a high turnout come the general election in November.

One in Three Are Latino Voters

According to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, one of every three registered voters in New Mexico is Hispanic. Based on voter files in April, most of New Mexico's Latino registered voters are Democrats, at 59 percent, while a healthy 39 percent are Republican.

But in regards to Latino Democrats, their turnout will be key in the Democratic Party's primary race between Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, especially as with the Democratic National Convention taking place next month.

Looking into the General Election

But for this November, more than 320,000 Latinos are expected to vote, which is an increase of five-percentage points from the 2012 presidential election when 306,000 Latinos casted their ballot.

"In the last four presidential elections, New Mexico has seen some of the closest contests in the nation," said NALEO Educational Fund Executive Director Arturo Vargas. "Election 2016 will be no different, with New Mexico Hispanic voters ready to play a vital role in electing the next individual to hold the highest office in the land."

NALEO noted that New Mexico has become a battleground state in 2000 and 2004 elections, which saw Democrats win by less than 1-percentage point.

But 2016 could be different as the state is governed by Latina Republican Susana Martinez, the first-ever Latina governor in U.S. history, and while considering Donald Trump's rhetoric about Latinos and the governor.

During a campaign rally in New Mexico in late May, Trump criticized Martinez, who was absent from his event. Trump accused her of allowing Syrian refugees into New Mexico and blamed her for the state's unemployment rate.

"We have to get your governor and get going. She's got to do a better job, O.K.? Your governor has got to do a better job," Trump said.

On June 2, Trump's tune may have changed. During an interview with The New Mexican, Trump said he does respect and likes Martinez.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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