Opinion | Federal Judge disenfranchises Eastern Washington Hispanics

Every 10 years redistricting happens in Washington state to equalize population shifts in legislative districts. Many eastern Washington Hispanics were thrilled that there was a new Yakima Valley district where Hispanics formed 73% of the population – and a majority of the eligible voters. But Democrats said it did not do enough and they sued.

The lawsuit is seen by many eastern Washington Hispanics as outrageous.

Seattle-based and Democrat-appointed, Federal Judge Lasnik issued a new map on March 15th, and it disenfranchises many in our community.

Lasnik judged our new maps based on how well they did to elect a so-called “Latino preferred candidate.”

And what is a “Latino preferred candidate” to Judge Lasnik? That candidate would be a Democrat.

Eastern Washington Hispanics are hard-working. We are extremely family oriented. Many of us have deep faith. We are very committed to our state and country.

We are also not the monolithic liberal voting bloc that those with a Seattle-centered world view would like to imagine. We are Republicans. We are Independents. We are Democrats.

In fact, a recent NY Times/Siena national poll and found that Only 20% of Hispanics describe themselves as liberal, 44% as moderate, and 30% as conservative. A March 16 Seattle Times column estimated that 40% of Hispanics chose a Republican ballot in Washington state’s primary.

Judge Lasnik should have refrained from making generalizations or assumptions about the political affiliations of Hispanics. It is crucial to recognize that the Hispanic community is diverse, consisting of people with varying political beliefs, ideologies, and cultural backgrounds. Stereotyping, or assuming that all Hispanics are Democrats, not only undermines the complexity of our political views but also perpetuates prejudice and misunderstanding.

We have been THRILLED with the election of one of our own to the state Senate seat in Legislative District 15. Nikki Torres beat her opponent by 35 points. Finally, we have someone visiting our communities who worked in the fields alongside her family. She speaks our language. She shares our American dream.

And what is Sen. Torres’ failing in Judge Lasnik’s eyes: she is a Republican.

The map the judge approved takes the majority Hispanic district she represents which is marginally Republican (+1.8 GOP) and turns the majority Hispanic district massively Democratic (+14.4% Democrat).

And the topper? The judge favors a map which CUTS the population of the highest Hispanic Citizen Voting Age district in the Yakima Valley (from 52.6% to 50.2%) AND throws Sen. Torres out of her district.

And he says he needs to do this to satisfy the requirements of the federal Voting Right Act (VRA). The VRA is supposed to HELP minorities – not be used to disenfranchise them.

Judge Lasnik’s map is nothing less than a partisan political gerrymander which in the name of helping Hispanics will actually disenfranchise many of us – including our outstanding Senator Torres.