ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of the role of Hispanos in New Mexico in the 1988 election. It discusses Hispano patterns of political participation in terms of voter registration, turnout, and electoral choice, political party affiliation, and activism. The chapter outlines the significance of the Hispano vote in New Mexico while also identifying some of the limitations of Hispano electoral clout. Hispano participation figured prominently in the presidential election of 1988 in the state of New Mexico. As voters, party activists, political incumbents, and challengers, Hispanos in New Mexico played an integral role in the electoral contests held throughout the election year. Special demographic characteristics of the Hispano population New Mexico provide the context for assessing its political participation in the state. As a subordinate economic group, then, Hispanos in New Mexico resemble Latinos in most other states. The Dukakis-Bentsen campaign in New Mexico also included voterregistration and get-out-the-vote drives that included the Hispano community.
