The Hispanic electorate has found its place at the center of national political discourse in an election marred by nativist rhetoric and punctuated by a “garbage” war.
In the final week of the election, the media tuned its radar on Puerto Ricans in swing states — particularly Pennsylvania and North Carolina — not because the campaigns elevated their concerns, but because of an ill-conceived joke that bashed the U.S. territory.
Crude origins aside, the Puerto Rican electorate’s moment in the spotlight presents an opportunity for the Latino vote writ large.
“This helps us to battle the misinformation, and this helps us to sustain our message that, you know, communities that have large numbers of participation in elections are communities that have better resources, that [have] better schools, better hospitals, better parks,” said Frankie Miranda, president of the Hispanic Federation.
Miranda said that despite…
