Latino Voters’ Support for Trump Wanes, Pew Finds

New research indicates that a substantial majority of Latino adults now express disapproval of former President Donald Trump, along with his economic and immigration policies. This significant shift comes despite Trump garnering nearly half of the Latino vote in the 2024 election, according to a recent report published by the Pew Research Center.

The study, conducted in October, reveals a notable decline in support. Seventy percent of Latinos surveyed “disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job as president.” Furthermore, a significant portion of this demographic voiced concerns over specific policy areas: 65% disapprove of his administration’s approach to immigration, and 61% believe his economic strategies have worsened financial conditions for many.

From Support to Scrutiny

Trump’s performance with Latino voters in 2024 marked a considerable increase from his previous showing, securing 48% of their vote compared to 28% in 2016. Latinos represent a critical and rapidly expanding demographic in the United States, constituting one in five Americans. Following the 2024 election, many Latino voters, particularly men, had attributed their support to Trump’s economic proposals and his stance on immigration, perceiving his rhetoric around mass deportations as less serious than it appeared.

A Siena poll for the New York Times in October 2024 underscored this sentiment, finding that two-thirds of Latinos felt Trump’s immigration discussions “do not feel like he is talking about me.” At that time, over 40% even approved of his proposal to construct a border wall.

Policy Shifts and Dwindling Backing

However, the landscape of support has evolved considerably since the implementation of key Trump administration policies. Sweeping tariffs, cuts to social safety net programs, and aggressive immigration raids have contributed to this decline. In June, a co-founder of the “Latinas for Trump” group publicly criticized the widespread immigration arrests, labeling them as “unacceptable and inhumane,” reflecting growing discontent within segments of his former base.

The impact of these shifts was evident in the November elections, where Democratic candidates successfully reclaimed Latino voters in the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia.

Divisions Within the Electorate

Despite the overall trend of diminishing approval, the Latino electorate remains sharply divided along partisan lines. The Pew report highlights that nearly all Latinos who cast their ballots for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election disapprove of Trump. Conversely, 81% of those who voted for Trump still approve of his job performance, although this figure represents a decline from 93% at the commencement of his term.

A pervasive concern among Latinos is the potential for deportation. A majority of those surveyed expressed worry that they, a family member, or a close friend could face deportation under the president’s policies, indicating a deep-seated apprehension within the community.

Source: The Guardian