ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the 1988 elections in the state of Colorado. This election offers a unique opportunity to test the hypothesis—that when cohesive and mobilized, the Latino electorate will turn out at higher rates than their socioeconomic status would predict. The Latino electorate has achieved a greater level of political mobilization. Latino electoral mobilization has also resulted from efforts to elect Latino candidates to city council and mayoral positions. Protest activities of minorities in the 1960s and the 1970s stimulated electoral mobilization among Latinos. Overall, Colorado’s Latinos are quite homogeneous in terms of origin and socioeconomic status. In 1980, Colorado ranked ninth nationally in concentration of Latinos. In terms of socioeconomic status, Colorado Latinos face several problems. The Colorado primary election was characterized by general disinterest. On the Democratic side, former Colorado state senator Polly Baca was the vice-chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.
