The Latino Vote Strength!
Miami, USA, Oct 20 (EFE).- By Pedro Pablo Cortés
The importance of the Latino vote, which could be decisive in the battle for control of Congress, is growing two weeks before the midterm elections in the United States, amidst discontent with President Donald Trump and his handling of the economy, according to analysts and civil organizations speaking to EFE.
More than half of Latino voters, 51%, support Democratic candidates for Congress, more than double those supporting Republicans (24%), and nearly three out of four, or 74%, disapprove of Trump’s presidency, a survey by the Pew Research Center revealed on Friday.
Despite these numbers, the president indicated on Monday that he maintains the support of Hispanics, who account for over 36 million voters, ahead of the upcoming November 3 elections, after having secured nearly half of their votes in 2024, a record for a Republican presidential candidate.
“I think we are doing great,” Trump said when questioned by reporters about his prospects among Latinos. “I got tremendous Hispanic vote,” he added.
Given this outlook, civil organizations are mobilizing, such as Somos Votantes (focused on empowering the Hispanic electorate and defending progressive policies) which invested 20 million dollars for the elections in California, Texas, Nevada, and Arizona, states with significant Latino populations, as well as in Wisconsin and Michigan.
The perspective of Latinos “is that a change was expected,” because in voting for Republicans and Trump in 2024, they were seeking a “change in the circumstances they had,” such as lowering prices, Ricardo Rauseo, national press secretary for Somos Votantes, explained to EFE.
“And that was not the case. We have now had almost 2 years of this Administration, and what they have done is allow prices to rise. So there is a disconnect between the priorities of the Administration and the Republicans in power, and the perspective of Latinos,” Rauseo argued.
Economy prevails over migration
Although deportations grab the headlines, with a record of nearly 200,000 immigration arrests over the last four months, the Pew survey found that the economy was the top priority for Latinos, as 86% considered it “very important” for their vote, compared to 64% regarding migration.
“We have seen these data points for many years now, where economic factors are truly more important than immigration for the Latino community, which is somewhat contradictory to what most political institutions believe,” Alejandra Y. Castillo, who served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development under the Joe Biden administration (2021-2025), told EFE.
The economist cited gas prices, which reached an average of 4.36 dollars per gallon, an autumn record logged by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and inflation, which rose to 3.7% in September, three-tenths higher than the previous figure, as key factors.
While resolving economic problems “is what attracted” Latinos “to vote for President Trump,” Castillo warned of “a very significant shift” in polls because “the data the community is receiving and experiencing puts them in a rather precarious situation.”
Rauseo agreed, noting that “these economic concerns have existed since before,” including during the Biden presidency, but “they have intensified over time,” particularly following the war in Iran.
“It is a growing concern about the cost of living. 64% of voters told us that costs have gone up significantly in the last year. Affordable food prices are also one of the most sensitive issues due to the war with Iran,” he stated.
Not an “Automatic” Democratic Vote
The Pew survey showed that nearly a fifth of Latino voters (18%) remain undecided, while Castillo and Rauseo warned that dissatisfaction with Trump does not imply an “automatic” or “guaranteed” vote for Democrats.
Hispanics represent one-fifth of the nation’s labor force, are the fastest-growing group in that market, and send remittances to their families; thus, experts indicated that they expect solutions regarding wage increases, healthcare access, and education. EFE
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