The demographic rise of Latinos in Texas is evidenced by their outpacing of non-Hispanic whites as the state's largest ethnic group, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. With 40.2 percent of Texas’ population last summer, Latinos now make up a significant portion of the state. However, despite this numerical representation, the political power of Latinos still does not correspond to their demographic predominance, according to the article in NPR.

The text points out that Latinos remain underrepresented when it comes to political participation and influence. Michael Li of the Brennan Center for Justice notes that while it is an important milestone for Latinos to be the ethnic majority in the state, their political presence is still limited. One reason is the younger age of the Latino population compared to other ethnic groups, meaning that a significant portion of Latinos have not reached voting age.

In addition, redistricting and structural barriers have an impact on the political representation of Latinos. Changes in voter ID policies and political map drawing have influenced the voting power of Latinos. That raises concerns about fairness and equity in elections, according to the publication.

The article highlights the importance of political and educational engagement activities to close the gap. Groups and activists have sought to make Latinos aware of the importance of voting and have tried to overcome barriers to participation. However, this requires significant investment so that they can effectively reach the population and encourage them to get involved in the political process.

The lack of investment in Latinos is pointed out as one of the reasons for their political underrepresentation. Political parties often direct their resources to groups of voters they find most predictable and relevant to their goals. This results in a disconnect between the size of the Latino population and its political impact.

According to the publication, Texas’ future success is intrinsically linked to the success of Latinos. The state's economic and social development will largely depend on how the needs of Latino communities are met and their ability to fully develop their potential in the years ahead.