Democratic candidates for president made history Sunday night with a debate that addressed the Latino community.

In Harris County, where there are an estimated 1.48 million Hispanics, many watched closely.

At a downtown Houston restaurant, where the tamales are served hot out of the oven, political history is heating up the dining room. 

It’s a watch party for the democratic presidential primary debate, the first debate ever to be hosted by Spanish-language TV.

“I think it’s very significant,” Sylvia Vega Royster said.

Royster, whose grandparents hale from Mexico, joined with other Latinos, evaluating candidates’ stances on issues in a way here-to-for unseen.

“They’re hearing what they’re saying, but they’re hearing it and seeing it in their own language, and that’s the best part,” Royster said.

The war to win Latino support, is being waged by both political parties, trying to lay their stake on the country’s most dynamic segment of potential voters.

In cities like Houston, for instance, the number of Latinos has swelled in recent years, to roughly 42 percent of the overall population according to statistics. Experts said that kind of growth, translates into real political power.

“The Hispanic population is exploding,” political expert Dr. Bob Stein said. “And it’s growing so quickly, it’s an opportunity one can’t afford to not pay attention to.”

A fact Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani seemed well aware of, during a campaign stop in Harris County.

“Republicans should do all they can to capture the Hispanic vote,” he said.

But immigration remains a divisive issue, possibly driving a wedge between the GOP and the very voters they hope to woo. But many Latinos are keeping an open mind.

“I think it’s really open,” Max Cardenas said. “It’s going to come down to what that candidate says.”

Waiting to hear, and to decide.

Univision invited the Republican candidates for a similar forum, but only Arizona Sen. John McCain has accepted.