On Eve of Arizona Primary, a Look at Latino Voters in the State

A family at Saturday's protest in Phoenix - Photo: José Muño

A Latino family at a protest against SB 1070 in Phoenix. (Photo: José Muño)

When Arizona passed the harsh anti-illegal immigration law SB 1070 in 2010, the national uproar led some members of the GOP to champion the state, while many Democrats called for an economic boycott.

Two years later, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and the rest of the Republican candidates vying for the Presidential nomination will face off Tuesday in a rattled Arizona. Not only has SB 1070’s architect, State Sen. Russell Pearce, been recalled, Sheriff Joe Arpaio is tangled up in a DOJ investigation, and Arizona voters say economic issues are their primary concern, not immigration.

On our radio partner WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show last Thursday, Phoenix based reporter Valeria Fernandez gave insight into how Arizona’s Latino voters are eyeing the GOP candidates.

Feet in Two Worlds is supported by the New York Community Trust and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation with additional support from the Mertz Gilmore Foundation and the Sirus Fund.

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Feet in 2 Worlds (Fi2W) is an independent media outlet, journalism training program, and launchpad for emerging immigrant journalists and media makers of color. Our work brings positive and meaningful change to America's newsrooms and has a broader impact on how immigration is reported and the ethnic and racial composition of news organizations.