Analyst: Latino Voters Could Sway Johnson-Feingold Contest

A pro-immigration group says Latinos could help decide next year’s U.S. Senate contest in Wisconsin.

The group America’s Voice has been analyzing 2016 Senate races expected to be competitive, and looked at states where Latino populations might help decide things.

The Wisconsin Senate contest is likely to be between incumbent Republican Ron Johnson and Democratic challenger Russ Feingold.

America’s Voice researcher David Damore of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas said Latinos only make up a little more than 2 percent of Wisconsin voters, but could end up being be a deciding factor.

“It’s a small population, but it’s growing, and it’s one that could be mobilized more effectively than it has been,” Damore said. “You know, if that race comes down to a couple of points, leaving 10,000 or 20,000 or 30,000 voters on the table may be the difference-maker.”

Damore said voter turnout among registered Latinos in Wisconsin topped 90 percent in 2012, but fell to about 70 percent last year.