Some of the most interesting and dynamic initiatives in American politics have to do with Hispanics. Groups and organizations are trying to reach our community from every possible angle because of the enormous benefits that having our support implicates in terms of votes, social integration, and economic gain.
One such initiative by the Republican Party, lead by George P. Bush, the nephew of the ex-President, an emerging conservative leader with Latino roots with the support of Juan Hernández and Jacob Monty, among others, focuses on inspiring and promoting Hispanic leadership through a plan to recruit Hispanic candidates to public office with the goal of increasing the presence and influence of the Latino community in politics and society as a whole.
«Hispanic Republicans of Texas » (HRT), responds to one of the bigger challenges of current American politics, especially for the GOP, that of significantly increasing Hispanic representation in public life. It is doubly important that this idea started in Texas, because it’s in this state where in the next few years Latinos will determine who wins elections as well as which candidates can hold state and local offices, or even occupy the White House.

Even though in Texas Hispanics represent 37 percent of the total population, 40 percent of school age children and are the demographic sector experiencing the greatest growth, Hispanic candidates represent a fraction of those Texans holding public offices. Of the 181 legislators in Texas, more than 40 are of Hispanic origin, but none are Republican Party members.
Hispanic Republicans of Texas is designed as an organization for Hispanics that want to participate politically through the Republican Party. It doesn’t focus on any specific area of politics, such as immigration, border control or other hot-ticket issues among Latinos. The goal of the organization is providing actual support to possible Hispanic candidates without limiting their ideas. This permits candidates to approach politics from their own angles, as viewed through the Latino prism and brings the Republican Party a complementary way of seeing the issues that they desperately need to connect with millions of Hispanic voters through conservative ideas and common values.

The November elections will demonstrate the success or failure of this strategy by Republicans as well as if projects like it will help Republicans win the Latino vote. One indicator will be the percentage of the Hispanic vote received by GOP candidate for governor Rick Perry. Whereas in prior elections Perry only obtained a third of votes, with this new initiative by the Hispanic Republicans of Texas, it is hoped that he will carry half or more of the votes.
Projects like Hispanic Republicans of Texas are ideal for inspiring those Hispanics interested in participating politically that up to now haven’t had the means or the support necessary to do so. When this happens in Texas, the heart of America, a place where Hispanics have a determining presence and in the Republican Party, it is good news for everyone: for Texas, for the GOP, for the United States, and over all, for those Hispanics committed to conservative values that must play a decisive part in the progress of their community and its contribution to the country.