Hispanic Voters: Healthcare Concerns Targeted for This Year's Election in Texas
Health care is the biggest concern for most Hispanic voters in Texas and may be the key to bringing them out to the polls this year.
The issue of Medicaid expansion, or lack of it, is a strong issue among Latino voters, which is why the Texas Organizing Project is knocking on the doors of these voters to persuade them to come out to the polls in November and cast a ballot for whoever is fighting for their concerns, according to The New York Times.
The project has backed Democratic candidates who supported the Affordable Care Act, but are not interested in a party line, just getting Hispanic votes.
"These aren't people who are worried about turning Texas blue," said Ginny Goldman, executive director of the Texas Organizing Project. "Not only will we support Republicans who are on our side of the issues, but we'll take on Democrats who are not."
Republicans are focusing more on the economy and jobs, using polling data which points to those issues being more important for Hispanics.
"Health care is a concern among all Texans -- not just Hispanics," David Zapata, Hispanic engagement director for the Republican Party of Texas. "However, what we're seeing is that jobs and the economy continue to dominate voters' concerns."
Anyone who is in support of changes to the health law, or outright against it, is likely to win Hispanic votes in the state.
Amid economy concerns, the Hispanics are also worried about the fines that Texans face if they do not enroll in health insurance.
The Hispanic voters could be a driving force in the elections this year, and the goal for the Project is to bring out more than 100,000 new minority voters, as well as reach out to thousands who are registered to vote but have not turned out previously.
In 2012, only 39 percent of Hispanics eligible to vote in Texas cast a ballot in the presidential election, and 61 percent of eligible Anglo Texans voted.
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