Latino locales: Does context matter?

This thesis examines the influence that contextual factors have on the political behavior of Latinos in the United States. I argue that, due to the unique immigration and socialization experiences of Latinos, context will play a role in the political behavior of Latinos. The hypotheses are tested against data collected from a national survey of Latinos conducted in 2006 and the National Election Studies from 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2008. The results of the analysis indicate that context does influence the partisanship of Latinos; however, the effect of descriptive representation for Latinos at the Congressional level does not mirror the experience of African Americans