This article lists the percentage of each state that is Hispanic, per the 2010 U.S. census, from the highest to lowest percentage of the total state population.

Hispanic demographic data is relevant to elections because in both 2008 and 2010, Hispanics voted in solidarity to exert a crucial influence on certain key elections:

• In 2008, Hispanic votes in New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado and Florida caused Democrat Barack Obama to win those often-Republican states, all which voted to reelect President Bush in 2004. As a direct result, Obama won the 2008 White House race. (See Why Red States Turned Blue in 2008 for details.)

• In 2010, Democrat Jerry Brown decisively won California's gubernatorial race because he attracted 63% of the Hispanic vote.

As the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S., Hispanics have the ability wield more political influence over U.S. elections than ever before in 2012.
In 2011, however, some Hispanics are disappointed that President Obama has not fulfilled 2008 campaign pledges to reform or aggressively advocate for U.S. immigration laws. The Hispanic community is especially chagrined that the DREAM Act legislation failed to be passed by Congress. (See Obama Imperiled in 2012 by Taking Latinos for Granted for details.)

• Major Hispanic Electoral Influence in 2012
  
• 1. New Mexico - 46.3%
  
• 2. California - 37.6%
  
• 2. Texas - 37.6%
  
• 4. Arizona - 29.6%
  
• 5. Nevada - 26.5%
  
• 6. Florida - 22.5%
  
• 7. Colorado - 20.7%

• Moderate Hispanic Electoral Influence in 2012
  
• 8. New Jersey - 17.7%
  
• 9. New York - 17.6%
  
• 10. Illinois - 15.8%
  
• 11. Connecticut - 13.4%
  
• 12. Utah - 13.0%
  
• 13. Rhode Island - 12.4%
  
• 14. Oregon - 12.7%
  
• 15. Washington - 11.2%
  

• 15. Idaho - 11.2%
  
• 17. Kansas - 10.5%
  
• 18. Massachusetts - 9.6%
  
• 19. Nebraska - 9.2%
  
• 20. Oklahoma - 8.9%
  
• 20. Wyoming - 8.9%
  
• 20. Hawaii - 8.9%
  
• 23. Georgia - 8.8%
  
• 24. North Carolina - 8.4%
  
• 25. Maryland - 8.2%
  
• 25. Delaware - 8.2%
  
• 27. Virginia - 7.9%

• Little Hispanic Electoral Influence in 2012
  
• 28. Arkansas - 6.4%
  
• 29. Indiana - 6.0%
  
• 30. Wisconsin - 5.9%
  
• 31. Pennsylvania - 5.7%
  
• 32. Alaska - 5.5%
  
• 33. South Carolina - 5.1%
  
• 34. Iowa - 5.0%
  
• 35. Minnesota - 4.7%
  
• 36. Tennessee - 4.6%
  
• 37. Michigan - 4.4%
  
• 38. Louisiana - 4.2%
  
• 39. Alabama - 3.5%
  
• 40. Missouri - 3.5%
  
• 41. Kentucky - 3.1%
  
• 41. Ohio - 3.1%
  
• 43. Montana - 2.9%
  
• 44. New Hampshire - 2.8%
  
• 45. Mississippi - 2.7%
  
• 45. South Dakota - 2.7%
  
• 47. North Dakota - 2.0%
  
• 48. Vermont - 1.5%
  
• 49. Maine - 1.3%
  
• 50. West Virginia - 1.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, via the AARP