Latino Catholics surging in Southwest

  

Axios - Hispanic Catholics last year accounted for the largest percentage of people who identify with a religion in the American Southwest. They surpassed the share of white evangelicals in some of the country's most populous states — California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, Axios' Russell Contreras reports from a new survey.  Hispanic Catholics have eclipsed white mainline Protestants in California, New Mexico and Texas. The share of mainline Protestants in Arizona is about the same as Hispanic Catholics — 13% vs. 12%.

Despite their growth, Hispanics — especially Catholics — are underrepresented in positions of power. Few Hispanic Catholics have been elected to the U.S. Senate. Five now serve there — the most in U.S. history. The nation has just one Hispanic Catholic governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico. Arizona and California have had only one Hispanic Catholic governor each. Texas has had none.