Fear also pushed Latinos more deeply into the arms of the Democrats. Seventy-two percent voted for Bill Clinton this year, 12 percent higher than in 1992. Even the staunchly Republican Cuban-American community split its vote, helping Clinton to an upset win in Florida. But nowhere was the payoff so big as in California, where the Democrats regained control of the state legislature–and elected a Latino assembly speaker. In Orange County, a bastion of conservatism, Republican stalwart Robert Dornan got nudged out by 984 votes. How did he lose? His opponent, Loretta Brixey, dropped her married name and ran as Loretta Sanchez.
