Gwinnett House race could measure Latino voting strength

Democrats’ quest to change Georgia from a Republican stronghold to a competitive battleground depends in no small part on harnessing the political power of the state’s growing minority population.

This week’s primary election in state House of Representatives District 99 in Gwinnett County might be a gauge of the strength of a key minority voting bloc. It’s Georgia’s only majority-Latino legislative district.

Two Democrats – Brenda Lopez and Jaime "Jay" Trevari – are competing in Tuesday's primary. No Republican is running for the Norcross-area district.

If Lopez wins, she would be the first Hispanic woman elected to the General Assembly. She is one of four Latinas running for state House seats this year. The others are Republican Alexa Mendez Rourk in District 81 (DeKalb and Gwinnett counties), Democrat Michelle Jones in District 30 (Hall County) and Democrat Linda Pritchett in District 63 (Fulton, Fayette and Clayton counties).

But the District 99 race is getting special attention.

“It is significant, with the Brenda Lopez candidacy, that she is the only one running in a Latino-majority legislative district,” said Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Elected Officials. “I think that many Hispanics are stepping forward and want to lead the communities they live in, and that is a good thing.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 9.3 percent of Georgians and nearly 21 percent of Gwinnett residents are Hispanic. The Atlanta Regional Commission expects Gwinnett to add more than 313,000 Hispanic residents by 2040.

Democrats see opportunity in demographic change. Studies and polls have shown minorities tend to vote Democratic. And some believe Donald Trump's candidacy for president could drive minorities to the polls. The Republican has described Mexican immigrants criminals and rapists.

“I think it’s a great opportunity this year,” said Gwinnett Democratic Party Chairman Jim Shealey. “In presidential years, the Democrats will be out there (voting).”

If the district has the potential to showcase Latino voting strength, it also could confirm that many Latinos don’t vote. Though they’re a majority of the population, they account for only 14 percent of active voters in House District 99, according to the Gwinnett Elections Department.

Gonzalez believes Gwinnett's statistics significantly under-count Hispanic voters. But he said GALEO is focusing on registering Latinos throughout Gwinnett, including the Norcross area.

“We do believe that an engaged Latino electorate in a May 24 primary election can determine the outcome of the election,” he said.

Lopez said electing more minorities to the General Assembly would make it more reflective of Georgia. “I think we need a more representative legislature,” she said.

Lopez, 33, is an attorney who handles immigration and minor criminal and traffic cases.

Trevari agreed the Legislature should be more diverse, but added, “I think it should be more a diversity of thought than diversity of race.” Trevari, 69, is a retired telephone company worker.

The candidates have similar priorities, including education funding and bringing some form of rail transit to Gwinnett.

Trevari said she’s a long-time district resident who has developed the kind of political and community relationships that would make her an effective representative. She’s won endorsements from labor groups and various Democratic politicians, including retiring Rep. Hugh Floyd, who currently represents the district.