“My observations have been, during this past cycle, particularly in Nevada, is that we have a lot of minority candidates, a lot of minority individuals who got involved in the campaign” as staffers or volunteers, Sandoval said. “I think they’re going to want to be a part of this immigration debate, I think it’s healthy and about time.”

Martinez, on the other hand, sounded a familiar warning: That Hispanics are not one-issue voters, and that attracting them to the GOP is about more than immigration policy.

“I really want to emphasize that when we have candidates that are discussing the immigration issue, certainly we have to always have that conversation in a sincere manner. I think Hispanics, like any other voter, can see through an insincere candidate who is just spouting the rhetoric or whose tone is not being respectful,” Martinez said.