Latinos in the 2014 Election: Oregon

This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters¹ and other major groups of eligible voters in Oregon.² All demographic data are based on Pew Research Center tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 American Community Survey.³

Hispanics in Oregon’s Eligible Voter Population

• The Hispanic population in Oregon is the 19th largest in the nation. About 473,000 Hispanics reside in Oregon, 0.9% of all Hispanics in the United States.
• Oregon’s population is 12% Hispanic, the 14th largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.
• There are 168,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon—the 20th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 6.4 million.
• Some 6% of Oregon eligible voters are Hispanic, the 20th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.
• Some 36% of Hispanics in Oregon are eligible to vote, ranking Oregon 41st 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

• Age. About four-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon (39%) are ages 18 to 29, higher than the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) and the share of all Oregon eligible voters (20%) and of all U.S. eligible voters (22%) in that age range.
• Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon, 19% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This is less than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S., but just 5% of all eligible voters in Oregon and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall are naturalized U.S. citizens.
• Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Some 73% of Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon are of Mexican origin, 5% are of Puerto Rican origin, and 22% claim other Hispanic origin. Among all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide, 59% are Mexican, 14% are Puerto Rican, and 27% are of some other Hispanic origin.
• Educational Attainment. About two-in-ten Latino eligible voters in Oregon (19%) have not completed high school, more than twice the 8% of all Oregon eligible voters who have not completed high school and less than the 23% of Hispanics nationwide who have not completed high school.
• Homeownership. About half of Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon (49%) live in owner-occupied homes, less than the 56% of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Greater shares of all eligible voters in Oregon (64%) and eligible voters nationwide (67%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Oregon, by Race and Ethnicity

• Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon by more than 14 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 Oregon. Some 39% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 18% of white eligible voters, 22% of Asian eligible voters and 32% of black eligible voters.
• Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of high school education than do white, Asian and black eligible voters in Oregon. Some 19% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 7% of white eligible voters, 11% of Asian eligible voters and 8% of black eligible voters. About equal shares of Hispanic (15%) and black (14%) eligible voters have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared with 29% of white and 39% of Asian eligible voters.
• Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (49%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black eligible voters (35%) in Oregon, but are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white (66%) or Asian (69%) eligible voters.