Why Latinos are still waiting to win statewide and citywide offices

You Decide with Errol Louis · Feb 19, 2026 · 37m

According to the latest census figures, there are approximately 3.87 million people of Hispanic or Latino origin living in New York state. They constitute about 19 to 20% of the state's total population, and the majority of this population, which is about 2.5 million, live in New York City, making up 28 or 29% of the city's population. And yet, New York has never elected a Latino to a statewide office or a citywide office.

Scholar, activist, political adviser and ordained minister Eliezer "Eli" Valentine has some theories as to why. Valentin joined Errol Louis to talk about this, as well as…