Final answer:
Hispanics in Texas have transitioned from being marginalized in political conflicts to becoming more prominent and influential in politics, especially after legal victories in the late 20th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the past, Hispanics have been marginalized in political conflict in Texas, with their vote often diluted by at-large electoral schemes and gerrymandered districts which prevented Hispanic candidates from winning elections. However, due to voter registration drives and court challenges in the late 1970s and early 1980s, such as by organizations like the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), these obstacles began to be overcome. By the 1980s, nearly half of the nation's 3,000 elected officials of Hispanic origins were from Texas. As their registered voter percentage increased from 8 percent in 1986 to 20 percent by 2011, Hispanics in Texas became more influential in the political sphere. In the future, they are likely to be prominent as a political force. This shift in political dynamics is exemplified by the election of San Antonio's first Hispanic mayor since the 1840s, Henry Cisneros, in 1981 and similar political advances elsewhere.
Answer: b) Marginalized, prominent