Date of Award
2025
Degree Type
Open Access Dissertation
Degree Name
Political Science, PhD
Program
School of Social Science, Politics, and Evaluation
Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair
Melissa Rogers & Tyler Reny
Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member
Adrian Pantoja
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2025 Adriana M Mendoza
Keywords
Elite interviews, Latino political participation, Non-partisan mobilization, Non-profit mobilization, Partisan mobilization, Voting Mechanisms
Subject Categories
Political Science
Abstract
This study investigates the low political participation of Latinos in the United States, focusing on the strategies used by political parties, campaigns and non-partisan organization to increase voter turnout, as well as the mechanisms through which these strategies affect voting behavior. Current theories of political mobilization provide a solid foundation; however, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms that drive mobilization within the Latino electorate. Through quantitative analysis using multivariate regression on data from the 2020 presidential election, I investigate the relationship between party and campaign contact on individual voting behavior. Additionally, elite interviews conducted with key stakeholders, including community leaders, I explore the role of non-partisan community organizations in addressing the mobilization gap. I find that while party and campaign mobilization efforts are effective in increasing voter turnout among the Latino population, the specific types of contact made by non-partisan community organizations and cultural groups are also significant. I explore mechanisms such as access to information, political efficacy, group identity and civic duty, examining their roles in mobilization and their impact on voter turnout. I find that contact with partisan organizations, influences voter behavior by increasing information and knowledge, as well as enhancing a sense of political efficacy and civic duty, rather than through group identity. Additionally, contact with cultural non-partisan organizations is impactful; it increases knowledge and enhances political efficacy and group identity while civic duty plays a lesser role.
ISBN
9798293807079
Recommended Citation
Mendoza, Adriana M.. (2025). Latino Voters in the United States: Mobilization and Mechanisms of Engagement Through Political Parties, Campaign Contact and Non-Partisan Organizations. CGU Theses & Dissertations, 1076. https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/1076.
