---
title: "Latinos in the 2014 Election: California"
description: "This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters[1. Eligible voters are defined as U.S. citizens ages 18 and older. Eligible voters are not the same as registered voters. To cast a vote, in all states except North Dakota, an eligible voter must first register to vote.] and other major groups of eligible voters […]"
date: "2014-10-16"
authors:
  - name: "Anna Brown"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/fact-sheet/latinos-in-the-2014-election-california/"
---

# Latinos in the 2014 Election: California

This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters[1. Eligible voters are defined as U.S. citizens ages 18 and older. Eligible voters are not the same as registered voters. To cast a vote, in all states except North Dakota, an eligible voter must first register to vote.] and other major groups of eligible voters in California.[2. The terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” are used interchangeably. References to other races and ethnicities are to the non-Hispanic components of those populations.] All demographic data are based on Pew Research Center tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 American Community Survey.[3. This statistical profile of eligible voters is based on the Census Bureau's 2012 [American Community Survey](http://www.census.gov/acs/www) (ACS). The ACS is the largest household survey in the United States, with a sample of about 3 million addresses. The data used for this statistical profile come from the 2012 ACS Integrated Public Use Microdata Series ([IPUMS](http://usa.ipums.org/usa/)), representing a 1% sample of the U.S. population. Like any survey, estimates from the ACS are subject to sampling error and (potentially) measurement error. More information is available on [ACS sampling strategy](http://usa.ipums.org/usa/design.shtml) and [associated error](http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/data_documentation/pums/Accuracy/2012AccuracyPUMS.pdf).]

### Hispanics in California’s Eligible Voter Population

[![Population and Electorate in the United States and California, 2012](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2014/10/PH-2014-10-election-fact-sheet-CA-01.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/fact-sheets/2014-state-election-fact-sheets/latinos-in-the-2014-election-california/ph-2014-10-election-fact-sheet-ca-01/)

- The Hispanic population in California is the largest in the nation. About 14.5 million Hispanics reside in California, 27.5% of all Hispanics in the United States.
- California’s population is 38% Hispanic, the second highest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.
- There are 6.4 million Hispanic eligible voters in California—the largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. Texas ranks second with 4.5 million.
- Some 27% of California eligible voters are Hispanic, the third largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.
- Some 44% of Hispanics in California are eligible to vote, ranking California 24th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, 80% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

### Characteristics of Eligible Voters

[![Characteristics of Eligible Voters in California and the United States, 2012](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2014/10/PH-2014-10-election-fact-sheet-CA-02.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/fact-sheets/2014-state-election-fact-sheets/latinos-in-the-2014-election-california/ph-2014-10-election-fact-sheet-ca-02/)

- **Age.** About one-third of Hispanic eligible voters in California (36%) are ages 18 to 29, slightly higher than the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) and the share of all California eligible voters (24%) and of all U.S. eligible voters (22%) in that age range.
- **Citizenship and Nativity. **Among Hispanic eligible voters in California, 27% are naturalized U.S. citizens, higher than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. Some 20% of all eligible voters in California—but just 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall—are naturalized U.S. citizens.
- **Hispanic Origin.** Among Hispanic eligible voters in California, 27% are naturalized U.S. citizens, higher than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. Some 20% of all eligible voters in California—but just 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall—are naturalized U.S. citizens.
- **Educational Attainment. **About one-quarter of Latino eligible voters in California (24%) have not completed high school, double the 12% of all California eligible voters who have not completed high school and slightly higher than the 23% of Hispanics nationwide who have not completed high school.
- **Homeownership.** Over half of Hispanic eligible voters in California (54%) live in owner-occupied homes, a little lower than the share of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide (56%). Greater shares of all eligible voters in California (60%) and all eligible voters nationwide (67%) live in owner-occupied homes.

### Characteristics of Eligible Voters in California, by Race and Ethnicity

[![Characteristics of Eligible Voters in California and the United States, by Race and Ethnicity, 2012](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2014/10/PH-2014-10-election-fact-sheet-CA-03.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/fact-sheets/2014-state-election-fact-sheets/latinos-in-the-2014-election-california/ph-2014-10-election-fact-sheet-ca-03/)

- **Number of Eligible Voters. **White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in California by about 2 to 1. Hispanic eligible voters outnumber Asian eligible voters by about 2 to 1 and black eligible voters by about 4 to 1.
- **Age. **Latino eligible voters are younger than white, Asian and black eligible voters in California. Some 36% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 18% of white eligible voters, 21% of Asian eligible voters and 24% of black eligible voters.
- **Educational Attainment. **Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do white, black and Asian eligible voters in California. Some 24% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 6% of white eligible voters and 12% of both Asian and black eligible voters.
- **Homeownership.** Hispanic eligible voters (54%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black eligible voters (39%) in California, but are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white (65%) or Asian (67%) eligible voters.