WASHINGTON, DC - Strong Latino voter turnout in key battle ground states has demonstrated once again that the growing Hispanic population is having an increasingly profound impact on United States elections.

Hispanic Republicans in particular combined strong support from conservatives and Latino voters to win 2 new governorships, 4 new house seats, and a new senate seat more than doubling the number of Republican Hispanics in Congress and giving our nation 3 Republican Hispanic Governors for the first time.

Overall Latino voter turnout was strong and continued to lean Democratic even as Republicans made big gains with other voters.

According to MSNBC exit polling in key battleground house races, Latino voters made up 8% of those races and favored Democrats over Republicans by 65% to 33%.

"The elections of 2010 are further proof of the power of the Latino vote," stated Margaret Moran, LULAC National President. "No longer can politicians afford to ignore the needs of their fastest growing constituency. Latino voters have demonstrated that they are paying close attention to the issues that matter most to their families and their communities and they are prepared to support the candidates who respond to their concerns."

In Nevada, Senator Harry Reid was reelected with overwhelming support from Latinos who turned out in large numbers to beat back challenger Sharon Angle whose anti-immigrant attack ads angered Latino voters across the state.

Exit polling by MSNBC indicates that Latinos made up 15% of the Nevada vote with 68% of Latino voters supporting Harry Reid.

In Florida, Republican Marco Rubio handily won election to the Senate with 55% of the Latino vote in a state where Hispanics made up 12% of the vote according to the exit poll. In addition, Republican David Rivera defeated Democrat ...