WHO ARE HISPANICS?

The Census Bureau defines Hispanic or Latino as a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. As of July 2023, the Census Bureau estimated that there were 65.2 million Hispanics in the U.S., making up more than 19% of the nation’s population.

The term “Hispanic” is often used interchangeably with “Latino”, but the two have different meanings and associations. Latino typically refers to a connection to Latin America or the Caribbean, and can also acknowledge other heritages. For example, a person from Brazil would be considered Latino, not Hispanic, because Portuguese is the primary language spoken there. 

According to Pew Research, Hispanic eligible voter population was 36.2 million in 2024, up almost 4 million from 2020. In other words, a larger voting population than blacks, Asians and any other racial group. As Donald J. Trump has shown us, you no longer have to have a Hispanic last name to get the Hispanic vote. It is crucial that you understand what motivates Hispanics to vote.

Hispanic Outreach Strategies is here to help!