Keys To The House

California Congressional seats that were solidly Republican are suddenly up for grabs. Capital Public Radio's Keys to the House follows the battleground races and themes that could determine which party controls the House of Representatives.

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The Safest Republican In A Democratic District

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Rep. David Valadao has consistently won election by double-digits, despite being a Republican in a blue district. CapRadio’s Ben Bradford explores why, joined by experts on the Latino vote, GOP strategist Mike Madrid and researcher Mindy Romero.

Rich Pedroncelli / File / AP

FILE - In this July 5, 2012 file photo, then-California Assemblyman, now-Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., speaks in Sacramento, Calif.

Rich Pedroncelli / File / AP

Latinos are California’s largest ethnic or racial demographic and have played a major role in the state’s increasingly Democratic votes. But Latinos in California still have some of the lowest turnout of any demographic. That has likely helped some Republicans, such as Central Valley Rep. David Valadao, continue to hold office, despite a major disadvantage in party registration.

GOP strategist Mike Madrid and researcher Mindy Romero discuss how “get out the vote” efforts often don’t reach the voters who would most benefit from it and why to avoid the term “sleeping giant.”

Guests:

Mike Madrid, principal, GrassrootsLab
@madrid_mike

Mindy Romero, director California Civic Engagement Project
@MindySRomero

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