LOS ANGELES, CA -- With the partisan balance of power at stake in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, Hispanics are poised to determine the outcome of key races on November 7, according to an analysis conducted by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund.



The NALEO Educational Fund also projects that 5.6 million Latinos will make their voices heard in the election, the highest Latino turnout for any Congressional election not held in conjunction with a Presidential contest.



In races for the U.S. Senate, Latino voters will play a crucial role in several contests that both parties view as valuable political prizes:



* In New Jersey, where Latinos are projected to comprise at least 7% of the voters, incumbent U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D) is seeking to win election to his first full-term in the Senate, and is locked in a tight race with New Jersey State Senator Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R), son of former Governor Thomas H. Kean, Sr. (R).



* In Arizona, where Latinos are projected to comprise at least 13% of the voters, Democratic real estate developer Jim Pederson has been gaining in the polls in his contest to unseat incumbent U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (R). The candidates' different perspectives on immigration policy have become a key issue during the campaign.



Hispanic voters will also have a significant impact on several U.S. House races that political observers are considering "toss-up" contests for Election 2006:



* In New Mexico's 1st Congressional District, New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid (D) is attempting to unseat U.S. Representative Heather Wilson (R). While Wilson is a four-term incumbent, her district ...