Arizona’s conservative Hispanic voters are a growing voting block. Traditional family values form the basis of their decision making when it comes to candidate preference. It will be harder for them to be represented now that the IRC maps have been approved by the Department of Justice.
The Obama Department of Justice just signed off on new redistricting maps that seriously weaken minority voting strength in Arizona’s legislative districts, according to Speaker of the House Andy Tobin. Legislative results from the last ten years show that Hispanic voters have often been unable to elect Hispanic candidates from districts supposedly designed to give them majority voting strength.
“Under President George W. Bush, the Department of Justice objected to the legislative maps 10 years ago when they had even stronger Hispanic districts. The question then has to be asked, how much will this hurt Hispanic voters?” Tobin asked in a statement released today.
In the face of obvious election-based evidence, the Independent Redistricting Committee should have enhanced Hispanic voting strength. Tobin and conservative Hispanics argue that instead, it has deliberately and overtly moved to undermine it.
According to the Arizona Daily Star, Jeff Rogers, chairman of the Pima County Democratic Party, told their reporter that it’s great news the maps have been approved and the process was not extended. “I think we’re going to improve our positions. It’s conceivable, if we catch a little bit of a wave, like a win by Obama and Carmona, we could pick up the state Senate.”
“The IRC’s maps break faith with the promise of the Voting Rights Act and they also have other legal problems they must answer for. I fully expect those legal infirmities to be the subject of future conversations. The IRC and the Obama Administration also owe the Hispanic Community an explanation and an apology. They should openly announce why they saw it necessary to shamelessly mute the voices of Arizona’s Hispanic voters,” Tobin said in the statement.