Bloomberg Línea — In an historic demographic shift, Hispanics have become the largest ethnic group in Texas, outnumbering whites for the first time since the mid-19th century, according to the most recent US Census Bureau data.
In 2022, the Hispanic population of the state numbered 12 million, making the state majority-ethnic-minority, with Hispanics representing around 40.2% of the Texan population, while non-Hispanic whites make up 39.8%.
The data mean that Hispanics are the largest demographic in the two most-populated US states, California and Texas, both of which are the only states in the country with a Hispanic population above 30 million, according to US Census Bureau estimates.
For years, the Hispanic and white populations of Texas were of equal size, with a difference of around 200,000 people, but over the last decade the white, non-Hispanic population has increased by 4.7%, while the Hispanic population has mushroomed by 27.5%
Political importance
This demographic shift has led to a greater recognition of the political power of the Hispanic community.
Although the majority of Texas Hispanics has consistently voted for Democrats, a higher percentage of them has backed Republicans compared to the Hispanic population in California. In the 2022 election, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott was re-elected with 40% of the Latino vote, according to a CBS News poll.
Nevertheless, Latinos in Texas still have difficulty exercising their right to vote.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has denounced the lack of online registration, limitations on voting by mail, long lines at polling stations, a lack of resources for those who do not speak English, and threats of criminal penalties for errors in the voting process.
“Latinos every year become a bigger factor in every election,” Chuck Rocha, a Democratic political consultant who designed Sen. Bernie Sanders’ successful Latino voting strategy in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, told The Hill.
“But it also shows you the importance of having elections that are easier to access. I think Latinos are going to demand more representation and more of a voice in their government,” added Rocha, who noted that Texas currently has no Hispanic elected officials statewide.
