The Latino Vote in Connecticut Goes Far Beyond One Community
New Census estimates show that non-Puerto Rican Latinos now make up the majority of Connecticut's Hispanic population.
By Isabel Calione|The New England Voice
Candidates who speak about Latinos as though they were a single, uniform group risk overlooking more than half of Connecticut's Latino population.
When Connecticut politicians speak about "the Latino vote," the conversation often centers on the state's large Puerto Rican community. Puerto Ricans are indeed the largest single Latino group in Connecticut. But the latest detailed Census estimates reveal a much broader and increasingly diverse population whose presence could matter in elections across the state.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey, Connecticut had an estimated 662,511 Hispanic or Latino residents, representing approximately 18.3% of the state's population.
Of that total, an estimated 292,677 residents were Puerto Rican, or 44.2% of Connecticut's Latino population. The remaining 369,834 Latinos were not Puerto Rican. Together, these other Latino communities represented 55.8% of the Latino population and approximately 10.2% of Connecticut's entire population.
In other words, Puerto Ricans remain Connecticut's largest individual Latino community, but all other Latino groups combined now form the majority of the state's Latino population.
Connecticut's Largest Latino Communities
| Community | Population | % of CT Latinos |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rican | 292,677 | 44.2% |
| Mexican | 63,957 | 9.7% |
| Dominican | 58,838 | 8.9% |
| Ecuadorian | 48,566 | 7.3% |
| Colombian | 32,267 | 4.9% |
| Guatemalan | 31,298 | 4.7% |
| Peruvian | 24,738 | 3.7% |
| Cuban | 14,875 | 2.2% |
| Salvadoran | 12,583 | 1.9% |
| Honduran | 11,640 | 1.8% |
| Spaniard | 8,140 | 1.2% |
| Venezuelan | 6,996 | 1.1% |
| Argentinean | 6,918 | 1.0% |
| Uruguayan | 1,139 | 0.2% |
The Census also estimated 38,574 residents in broader "other Hispanic" categories, including people who identified as Spanish, Spanish American or another Hispanic origin not listed separately.
Where These Communities Are Concentrated
The figures show that Connecticut's Latino communities do not all live in the same places.
Bridgeport is one of the state's most diverse Latino centers. It has some of the largest Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Salvadoran, Cuban and Ecuadorian populations in Connecticut.
Danbury stands out as the principal center of the Ecuadorian community, with an estimated 9,851 Ecuadorian residents. It also has the third-largest Dominican population among Connecticut municipalities.
Stamford and Norwalk are especially important for Central and South American communities. Stamford has the state's largest estimated Guatemalan and Peruvian populations, while Norwalk leads in Colombian, Honduran and Venezuelan residents.
Hartford, Waterbury, New Britain and Meriden remain major centers of Puerto Rican life. Hartford also has one of the state's largest Peruvian communities, while Waterbury has the largest estimated Dominican population.
New Haven has large Puerto Rican and Mexican populations and is also among the leading municipalities for Venezuelan, Ecuadorian, Cuban and Colombian residents.
Population Is Not the Same as Eligible Voters
These numbers demonstrate demographic presence, but they should not be described as a count of votes or registered voters. The Census population estimates include children, noncitizens and adults who are eligible but not registered.
Puerto Ricans born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens, while citizenship rates vary among immigrant-origin communities. Connecticut's publicly posted voter-registration totals are organized primarily by municipality and political enrollment, not by detailed Latino national origin. Therefore, no official public count shows exactly how many Mexican, Dominican, Ecuadorian, Colombian or Peruvian residents are registered to vote.
A precise estimate of electoral power would require a separate analysis of age, citizenship, registration and turnout. Still, the population figures show where voter-registration drives, candidate outreach and Spanish-language information could have the greatest impact.
A Diverse Electorate Cannot Be Treated as One Bloc
The phrase "Latino vote" can hide significant differences. A Puerto Rican family in Hartford, an Ecuadorian family in Danbury, a Guatemalan family in Stamford and a Mexican family in New Haven may have different histories, priorities and experiences.
Candidates who speak about Latinos as though they were a single, uniform group risk overlooking more than half of Connecticut's Latino population. Meaningful political outreach requires attention not only to language, but also to nationality, city, generation, citizenship and the local issues affecting each community.
The numbers make one point unmistakable: Puerto Rican voters remain essential to Connecticut politics, but the future of Latino political influence in the state also depends on the many Mexican, Dominican, Ecuadorian, Colombian, Guatemalan, Peruvian and other Latino communities that together now form the majority.
Data Note
Population estimates come from U.S. Census Bureau table B03001, Hispanic or Latino Origin by Specific Origin, 2020–2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates. Municipal rankings use Connecticut county-subdivision data, which correspond to the state's municipalities. Figures are survey estimates and carry margins of error; totals may not capture every way residents describe mixed or multiple origins.
Sources
- ●U.S. Census Bureau, B03001: Hispanic or Latino Origin by Specific Origin
- ●U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS five-year table-based summary files
- ●Connecticut Secretary of the State, Election statistics and voter-registration data