Why has there never been a Latino mayor?

Hispanics Are the Largest Racial/Ethnic Group in Houston, Yet We Have Never Elected a Latino Mayor: What Gives Here? One of Two Posts.

By Richard Murray

Current population estimates place the Hispanic population in Houston at about 41 percent, considerably larger than non-Hispanic whites (about 28 percent), or African Americans (24 percent), with Asian Americans comprising most of the remaining 7 percent. Houston has recently elected and reelected a black mayor (Lee Brown, 1998-2004). An Anglo woman, Kathy Whitmire, won five consecutive mayoral elections from 1981 to 1989. This year many observers think the City might elect City Controller Annise Parker, an openly gay Anglo. Despite Houston voters evident willingness to elect persons from various backgrounds, few observers, including your humble correspondent, think there is much chance a person of Hispanic origin can win the mayor’s job this fall. If so, that would continue a 173 year losing streak for Latinos in winning our town’s biggest political plum. Why?

Historically, one should keep in mind that Houston did not have a large Hispanic population percentage until after World War II, and municipal politics were effectively dominated by Anglos, who marginalized the local black population until the late 1960s and pretty much ignored Latinos. Given that reality, it is not surprising that no Spanish surname candidates filed for mayor between 1926 and 1973, and only one African American (Curtis Graves, 1969) was on the ballot in the 25 mayoral city elections over this span.

Finally, in 1975, Pedro Vasquez qualified for the mayor’s race. He got 1,396 votes – less than one percent of the 240,029 ballots cast that year. In 1977 two Latino candidates (Arthur Abrego and Manuel Velasco) were in a 12 person field hoping to succeed retiring Mayor Fred Hofheinz. Together, they got 1,305 votes out of 170,959 – again, less than one percent.

The first serious Hispanic contender for mayor of Houston was Leonel J. Castillo in 1979. On paper Castillo seemed a strong candidate. He had been elected City Controller in 1973 and 1975, and had served in Washington, D.C. as President Carter’s Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization. He did a lot better than the previous Latino candidates, getting 44,685 votes, but still finished third with 23.6% of the total vote. Eighteen years passed before another Hispanic, City Council Member Gracie Saenz, ran for mayor in 1997. In an eight person field she finished fourth, with just 7 percent of the total vote.

In 2001 A Hispanic candidate had the one real opportunity to win Houston’s CEO job when my former student, Council Member Orlando Sanchez ran a close second to Mayor Lee Brown, forcing a December runoff. Sanchez increased his vote from 115,967 to 155,164 in the runoff, but fell just short of ousting Mayor Brown who got 51.7% in winning a third term. Orlando Sanchez tried again in 2003. Although this was an open seat election (Brown was term-limited that year), and Sanchez again qualified for a runoff with newcomer Bill White, he was crushed in a December runoff, losing by more than 25 percentage points. No Hispanic candidates ran in 2005 or 2007 as Mayor White was easily returned to office.

Adding things up, there have been 42 mayoral elections in Houston between 1926 and 2007. Two hundred candidate names have been on the ballot. Just six of those had Spanish surnames, or three percent. None have won, and only Sanchez came close in 2001.

What explains this record? Several factors, but let’s look at the most important today, and move on to the others later in the week.

Numero uno, the Latino vote share in the City of Houston is far smaller than the Latino population share. We mentioned at the start that more than 40 percent of the city’s population is Hispanic, but when we look at the voting population we find a very different pattern. A good place to show this is our most recent presidential election. If we look at the vote in Houston on November 4, 2008, one finds about 584,000 total ballots were cast by city residents. We can then look at how many of these voters had Spanish surnames, which is a good measure of overall Hispanic voting. By this measure, the total Latino vote in the City of Houston was just 70,000, or about 12 percent of the total. I know Hispanic voters were less interested in the McCain/Obama contest than were African Americans or white conservatives who both turned out in huge numbers last November, but even allowing for that, it is clear the Hispanic vote in the city is far, far smaller than either the black vote (which averages around 30 percent of the total), or the white Republican vote (also about 30 percent in a typical city election). With a base Latino vote in the 15 – 18 percent range, Hispanic candidates must receive a large non-Latino vote to have any chance of winning the mayor position. To date, only Orlando Sanchez in 2001 has been able to do that.

Comments

[tellitlikeitis]

Why has there never been a Latino mayor? Do we really need to answer this question???

[rick]

another race-baiter running off at the fingers, instead of the mouth (this time)

[merlin whitfield]

just look at mexico

[buddy]

Why hasn't there been a Polish mayor? Or a Vietnamese mayor? Or a German mayor? Or a......
you beginning to get the picture. I'm sick of hearing it.

[houston]

there's not one smart enough to be Mayor, so what should we do just throw one in the mayor's office just because they are Mexican, this city just kills me. Lived here all my life now all races are coming out of the woodwork thinking they should be put in high positions just because they are N.or W.Bk's

[racetruckin]

Why has there never been a Latino mayor in Houston? Maybe because a Latino worthy of the position has yet to run. NO ONE should be elected simply because of THEIR race.... OR.... the ethnic makeup of an area. The best, brightest, most qualified individual should be elected by the citizens. Period. Race/Ethnicity should not even be a consideration.

[chupacabra]

cause most their backs are still wet?

[Elda]

Mexicans are too busy having babies!! he he!!

[Chester]

Why is that important? Why bring it up ?
Slow news day....

[Kristin]

You know, I really like ABC13, but really what I'm getting is that all you all really want to do is stir up racial controversy. Everyday there is something about Latinos, and everyday there are people who write hurtful slurs and stereotypes. What does it matter that there has not been a Latin mayor. I hope that people take their voting rights more seriously than to just vote (or not vote) for a person because of their skin color and/or background. I'm very disappointed in this news station at the moment.

[michelle]

WOW, some of you people on here do not surprise me at all. Racism and profiling, still running through Houstonian blood. Why hasnt there been a Latino mayor? Well regardless of race, politics is controlled by money. Race does not matter when it comes to politicians. Yes, Hispanics have the higher percentage in Houston to make a difference, but our own Hispanic "leaders" do not target the Hispanic communities as they should to get people to register and vote. Where are our leaders? should be the question. And to rick, merlin, and chester... who do you think you are? We are all human beings on this earth, some humans need more help than others. Do you feel your racial comments are necessary and are being helpful? Maybe you should considered that in these hard times you should look past the moronic mentality you have and try and do some volunteering. EDUCATE yourselves. Thanks for the article Richard Murray, I can see we havent gone any further to destroy racism in this country. wow.

[sickandtired]

Why can't there be a Cajun mayor? Whaaaaaaaaa. Boo.Hoo.

[GoObama!]

I'm so excited that this country is being conquered by the darker races! It has already begun with the election of a black president! I am so thrilled that God is blessing this country with millions of hard-working Mexicans, legal and illegal! God is Great! The white man is getting fatter and poorer and the complexion of this country is getting darker! Amen!

[KingAbdullah]

You Americans are so pathetic. I am Saudi Arabian and I laugh whenever I see you idiots fill up your SUVs and F350s truck because it makes my people and me so wealthy. Go ahead and wallow in your racism because it distracts you from the real issues that continue to sink your nation into oblivion. Meanwhile, we continue to get rich and some even finance the wars that blow up your sons and daughters abroad. Keep fiddlin' that violin, Cledus, while Vidor burns to the ground!

[STFU]

Anonymity is a cowards comfort zone.