Hispanic voters are flocking to the Republican Party, leaving Democrats scrambling to understand why.
At a Glance
- Two Latino Republican candidates, Jason Miyares and John Lujan, flipped seats previously held by Democrats in Virginia and Texas
- Recent poll shows Donald Trump leading with 52% support from Hispanic voters compared to 40% for Kamala Harris
- Virginia AG Miyares attributes shift to Democrats’ disconnect with cultural, socialist, and traditional values
- Economic concerns and border security issues influencing Hispanic voters’ political preferences
- Use of term “Latinx” by Democrats criticized as out of touch with Hispanic communities
Republican Victories Signal Shifting Hispanic Allegiances
The political landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as Hispanic voters increasingly align with the Republican Party. This trend was highlighted by recent victories of Latino Republican candidates in traditionally Democratic strongholds. Jason Miyares, set to become Virginia’s first Latino attorney general, and John Lujan, who flipped a majority Latino district in Texas, both secured significant wins against their Democratic opponents.
These victories are not isolated incidents but part of a broader trend. A recent poll reveals Donald Trump leading with 52% support from Hispanic voters compared to 40% for Kamala Harris, signaling a potential realignment of political loyalties within the Hispanic community.
Virginia Attorney General Miyares says Hispanics are leaning right in politics because the left is out of touch https://t.co/gCtoVkZl6T
— Just the News (@JustTheNews) November 4, 2024
Even nakedly leftist Politico has been forced to concede that Hispanics are not offended by recent remarks at a Trump rally about Puerto Rico. It’s really white leftist Democrats who are upset.
Democrats’ Cultural Disconnect
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares points to a growing disconnect between the Democratic Party and Hispanic voters as a key factor in this shift. He argues that the left’s embrace of terminology like “Latinx” demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of Hispanic culture and language.
“As the Democratic party gets dominated by far left academics, then it is driving…I think so many Latino voters are away. I mean [look at] terms like Latinx. I like to say anybody who uses the term Latinx has never actually spent one day in a Latino community,” Miyares said.
Miyares emphasizes that the Spanish language is inherently gendered, making the gender-neutral term “Latinx” not only unnecessary but potentially offensive to many Spanish speakers. This linguistic misstep symbolizes a broader cultural insensitivity that may be alienating Hispanic voters.
Rejection of Socialist Policies
Another crucial factor driving Hispanic voters towards the Republican Party is the perceived socialist leanings of the Democratic agenda. Many Hispanic Americans have personal or familial experiences with socialist regimes in countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, making them wary of policies that echo those systems.
Miyares, whose mother escaped from Cuba, brings a personal perspective to this issue. His family’s experience resonates with many Hispanic voters who see parallels between leftist policies in the U.S. and the socialist regimes they or their families fled.
Family Values and Economic Concerns
The Republican Party’s emphasis on traditional family values and economic opportunity aligns closely with the priorities of many Hispanic voters. Miyares notes that the Hispanic community is deeply family-oriented and often at odds with far-left ideologies on social issues.
“If you know anything about the Latino community it loves family, it loves faith, it’s also very much focused on entrepreneurship,” Miyares said.
Economic issues, particularly the rising cost of living, are also driving Hispanic voters towards Republican candidates. John Lujan, who won in Texas, highlighted voter frustration with gas prices and border security as key factors in his victory. These kitchen-table issues resonate strongly with Hispanic families feeling the pinch of inflation and economic uncertainty.
