December 13, 2006
Did The Latino Vote Sink Bonilla?
Rep. Henry Bonilla’s (R-TX 23) loss last night confirms one of the Bush administration’s greatest fears: that a hard-line position on illegal immigration could cause Republicans long-term damage among the growing Latino vote.
Bonilla was a strong supporter of the tough-on-immigration measures sponsored by the Republicans. He voted for the construction of the 700-mile border fence, and supported Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner’s bill penalizing workers who hire illegal immigrants.
Based on the election results, it appears Latino voters – even among his previous supporters – turned on him and supported ex-Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D). In Maverick County (95% Hispanic), Bonilla won a miniscule 14% of the vote. By contrast, Bonilla carried the county in his comfortable 2004 win, and President Bush even performed respectably here in 2004 when he won 40%.
Val Verde County (76% Hispanic) has traditionally been a solidly pro-Bush, pro-Bonilla county. Bush carried it with 59% of the vote in 2004. But Bonilla barely carried it, only winning 51% there against Rodriguez.
By contrast, the majority-white counties in the district remained strongly pro-Bonilla. Medina County (45% Hispanic) overwhelmingly voted for Bonilla, giving him 68% of the vote. That’s not much of a dropoff from Bush’s 70% performance there in 2004.
On the day of the election Bonilla’s spokesman Phil Ricks expressed confidence that Hispanics were supportive of Bonilla’s stance on border security. “If you’re a legal citizen, you’re not in favor of illegal immigration. If you go through the process legally, illegal immigration insults you,” he said.
Hispanic voters didn’t see things the same way. And if Bonilla – the only Mexican-American Republican in Congress – takes this much of a hit among Latinos, Republicans have much to be concerned about looking ahead to 2008. [JOSH KRAUSHAAR]
Posted at 09:28 AM
Comments
The Republican party can thank tancredo for chasing away this growing voting bloc
maria | 12.13.06 03:36 PM
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Lets see: If someone comes to your neighborhood and murders most while stealing their homes. Do you think that they should make the rules in that neighborhood against your grandchildren? Well then if you are of European blood, your great grandfathers stole this land from the natives and murdered them.
You are the murderous immigrants descendents and now you are setting the rules against mexicans. Mexicans at least are 1/2 Native American. Their ancestors are the true owners of the land your'e sitting on. Only it was stolen through murder. They are only coming to work the land that was stolen from their forefathers. Sad.
Gilberto | 12.14.06 10:23 AM
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Bonilla is an idiot who deserved to lose. His stance on immigration was out of the mainstream with americans of mexican descent and he learned that lesson the hard way.
pete ruiz | 12.14.06 10:23 AM
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