Axios hosted a roundtable last week to discuss how the growing Latino demographic (currently at 58 million) is impacting American business, culture, and politics.
One big thing: Guests discussed the Latino community's growing economic power, but expressed frustration in terms of converting that into other kinds of power.
- Angelo Amador, Senior Vice President of the National Restaurant Association, on culture: “We [the Latino community] have more economic power, more restaurants—the culture is shifting. But this is causing a backlash that we haven’t seen before.”
- Abigail Golden-Vazquez, Executive Director at the Aspen Institute, on business: “Latinos are starting businesses at 3x the rate as the rest of the population. [...] It’s Latinos who are coming in and starting stores and revitalizing communities."
The power of the Latina
Multiple participants discussed their observations regarding a galvanization particularly among Latinas when it comes to voting and running for office in 2018.
- From Xochitl Hinojosa, DNC Communications Director: "In Texas and New Mexico we have Latina candidates rising. A lot of our work [at the DNC] in 2018 will be focused on this community."
- From Cristòbal Alex, President of Latino Victory Project: "More than 70% of [Latino Victory Project's] candidates are going to be women. They're running up and down the ballot: State-wide offices, congressional offices, and local offices.”
On what's at stake in the 2018 midterm elections:
- Angelo Amador: "Losing moderate Republicans."
- Abigail Golden-Vazquez: “Our democracy."
- Eric Rodriguez, Vice President of UnidosUS: "Health care," and “respect for the community."
Capricia Marshall, Atlantic Council Ambassador in Residence, on culture: “Latino restaurants, food, and culture is so embraced now in the United states. It’s everywhere. [...] How do we reconcile that with what we're seeing?”
Thank you UnidosUS for sponsoring this event.