Dean Johnson Comments on Latinos and California Primary for KPCC

Dean Kevin R. Johnson was interviewed on Southern California Public Radio station KPCC about the impact Latino voters may have on the upcoming California primary. 

Latinos represent about 40 percent of the California population and an increasing share of its registered voters, and they have the potential to be a decisive influence in both the primary and the general election, Dean Johnson said. Though predominately Democratic, Latinos are not monolithic in their political orientation, and while many in the established Mexican-American community have longstanding ties to Democratic hopeful Hilary Clinton, more recent immigrants and younger Latinos may be more excited about her rival Bernie Sanders.

"The question will be whether Sanders or Clinton in the primaries inspire young Latino voters to come to the polls and to vote, and that's why Bernie Sanders and Hilary Clinton are trying to engage that community now and trying to encourage them to vote and to participate in the political process," said Dean Johnson.

Kevin R. Johnson is Dean and Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and Chicana/o studies at UC Davis School of Law. He is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of immigration law and policy, refugee law, and civil rights.