For the Democratic party to really compete with the Republicans they need to target a new group of voters. With its rapidly growing population those of Hispanic ethnicity may be the group the Democrats need to target. When focusing on the Hispanic Population Democrats face two main issues the low turnout of Hispanic voters as well as the number of Hispanics which identify as republicans.
During the presidential election of 2012 only thirty-nine percent of eligible Hispanic voters in Texas participated, this is lower than the national percentage of forty-eight (Connie Mclaggan). Both of these numbers fail in comparison the percentage of white voters in the same presidential election. In Texas sixty-one percent of white eligible whites participated compared to sixty-four percent nationwide (Connie McClaggan). The Democratic party in Texas also faces the issue of the amount of Hispanic voters which identify with the Republican party. In Texas twenty-seven percent of Hispanics identify as republican which is higher than the twenty-one percent average of other states (Andrew Dewgan). While twenty-seven percent is lower than the sixty-six percent which identify as Democratic or independent it does show that Texas republicans have connection with Hispanic voters more so than other states (Andrew Dewgan). This is likely related to how they handle this issue of illegal immigration. If the democratic party is able to target the Hispanic population and focus on the issues which they find important, like immigration, Texas may become a purple or blue state in the future. The demographic changes occurring in Texas will effect more than the government. It will affect the economy. It is assumed a group who on average has a low education level would likely earn less income and possibly contributing to a higher poverty level. According to the census of 2010 the Hispanic population in Texas represents this trend. Hispanics forty percent of adults over twenty-five with less than a high school degree, the highest out of all groups (Texas counties Videos). As well as the lowest percentage of adults with a bachelor degree or more, eleven percent(Texas counties Videos). While the majority population, non-Hispanic whites, only had eight percent of adults over twenty-five with less than a high school degree (Texas counties Videos). Non-Hispanic whites also had the second highest percentage of adults with bachelor degrees or more at thirty-four percent (Texas counties Videos). In 2010 the medium household income in Texas was $48,615 (Texas counties Videos).