The report features the fifty-five Latinos, seventeen Asian Americans, six Arab Americans and two Caribbean Americans running for U.S. Congress this November. These numbers mark a historic high for immigrant community participation, just as the U.S. reached a significant milestone: for the first time in U.S. history, over 50 percent of children born in the United States were born to minority parents.
“The record number of Congressional candidates from America’s diverse communities demonstrates yet another arena in which immigrants have an impact – the political sphere,” said NALP’s Founding Director Sayu Bhojwani. “The increasing number of immigrant candidates on the ballots and immigrant voters at the polls is a testament to the political maturity of Arab, Asian, Caribbean and Latino communities and a giant stride towards more representative and responsive government.”
Texas State Representative Joaquin Castro, a second generation Mexican running for Congress said, “Even before it was christened as the United States of America, this country has been a land of immigrants. Two of our Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine and Alexander Hamilton, crossed the Atlantic to add their talents to creating this experiment in democracy. The New American Leaders Project report shows that the 2012 elections are introducing a new generation of leaders from immigrant communities who will leave a lasting imprint on Congress and the nation.”
The report analyzes how current record numbers of immigrants running for office compare to previous elections. Even with the record numbers of candidates for office, it’s projected that Asian American representation will remain steady or possibly decrease. Additionally, Latino representation will likely increase, but remain disproportionate to the Latino population.
You can find the report on The New American Leaders Project website here.
“From the Community to the Capitol” takes a close look at this year’s diverse candidates, such as candidate for California’s 7th congressional district Ami Bera, who said “I’m running for Congress to ensure a future where our children and grandchildren have the same opportunities I did. It’s no surprise that so many first generation Americans want to serve the public and give back to the country they love. That’s what America is all about.”
The report also looks at the burgeoning voting power of immigrant communities. Given that Latino and Asian voters played significant roles in the outcomes of several close races in 2010 for both Democratic and Republican candidates, these voters will be watched to see how much of an impact they have at the polls once again this coming November.
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The New American Leaders Project (NALP) is the only national organization specifically focused on preparing first- and second-generation immigrants for civic leadership. NALP aims to expand the number of immigrants in leadership positions, increase voter participation in immigrant communities and allow immigrant voters more opportunities to engage with leaders who reflect their unique experiences. Visit http://newamericanleaders.org or follow #NewamericanLP for additional information.
The New American Leaders Project has experts available for commentary on immigrant civic engagement.