Hispanic political leaders excited about changing demographics in New Hampshire
Negron, Espitia call access to political system important
Negron, Espitia call access to political system important
Negron, Espitia call access to political system important
New U.S. Census data shows that the Hispanic population in New Hampshire is growing, and two political leaders said they're excited about the future of a diversifying state.
Nashua is one of the epicenters of demographic change in New Hampshire. Republican Steve Negron and Democratic state Rep. Manny Espitia both hail from the Gate City.
"To see that kind of movement of the Hispanic community coming here to the Northeast, specifically here to our city of Nashua, was actually pretty cool," Negron said.
"We had like a 75% jump in non-white residents in the last decade, and Nashua itself has seen — 45% of the population under 18 is now actually non-white," Espitia said.
Negron is a two-time Republican nominee for Congress in New Hampshire's 2nd District and also served at the State House. Espitia is a rising star in the Democratic Party, moving into leadership in his second term in Concord.
They have ascended in New Hampshire's wide-open politics, but they said the system can still become more accessible.
"I think it's important," Negron said. "I say there's always ways to make it better. but you've got to start somewhere, and I think with Manny in there now and when I was there a couple years ago. I think really shows that we're really having an opportunity to open up the gateway for people locally to get into the state politics."
"I think we definitely need to work to make it easier for folks to be able to come in," Espitia said.
Both said they have confronted and overcome discrimination, but obstacles aside, they said there's almost nothing their communities cannot work their way through.
"I think a lot of the time folks think of immigrants as — they think, 'Oh, we want a handout,' but I think Steve and I can both agree we're very resilient people," Espitia said. "We will go to whatever lengths we need to to make sure we can provide for our families."