Redistricting: The Hispanic and Latino Effect

States are in the process of redrawing their legislative boundaries to reflect the country’s population change—an often politicized process that happens every 10 years. According to this NPR story, lawsuits have already been filed challenging redistricting plans in at least 28 states. And many of these lawsuits focus on the best way to represent people of Hispanic or Latino origin. Groups like the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund are pushing for majority-Latino districts given the huge growth in this population over the last 10 years.

To be sure, the number of people of Hispanic or Latino origin increased from 35.3 to 50.5 million between 2000 and 2010 and now represent about 16% of the U.S. population. According to the Census Bureau, this huge jump equals a 43% increase in the Hispanic and Latino population and towers above total U.S. population growth of 10%. This 2010 Census Brief provides a good overview of these numbers.