Latinos are a small but growing force in electoral politics across Cascadia. The bet is on when they will make a difference.
In Oregon, they make up about 10 percent of the population, but only about 4 percent of eligible voters and even fewer actual voters, according to a front-page story in The Oregonian. Latino voters are likely to be significant in 10-15 years. But this year, the Republican candidate for governor is betting that anti-immigrant policies will win him more support from working-class and conservatives than it will cost longer term.