Latino voters shifted sharply to the right in an election dominated by economic worries, with exit polls revealing that Trump garnered 45% of the Hispanic vote—a 13-point increase from 2020 and a historic high for a Republican presidential candidate.
Latino voters had heavily supported Democratic candidates in recent elections, with 71% backing President Barack Obama in 2012 and 66% supporting Hillary Clinton in 2016, followed by 65% for Joe Biden in 2020.
Harris saw weaker support than Biden among Latino voters in every battleground state except Wisconsin. Her largest declines came in Michigan, where her 35% support fell significantly from Biden’s 59%, and in Pennsylvania, where she received 57% compared to Biden’s 78%.
Throughout the election, Latino voters consistently ranked the economy, inflation, and higher costs as their top concerns, with many favoring Trump’s economic approach. Regino Cruz, a 25-year-old Puerto Rican voter in Pennsylvania, said he chose Trump, believing he could improve the economy: “For me, it’s work. It’s the economy. It’s groceries.”
In a September poll by NBC News, Telemundo, and CNBC, 34% of Latino respondents listed the cost of living as their most pressing issue, followed by jobs and the economy at 20%. Trump’s gains were substantial in areas like Starr County, Texas, and Miami-Dade, Florida, traditionally Democratic strongholds that swung red.
Trump’s success extended to Latino Republicans as well. Texas Senator Ted Cruz won the Hispanic vote by six points, a notable improvement from his 2018 performance, when he lost this demographic by 29 points.
Latino voters’ dissatisfaction extended beyond economic issues to immigration. A September poll indicated that 35% of Latinos viewed immigration as more harmful than beneficial—the highest level in nearly 20 years. Trump’s campaign pledged to launch a large-scale deportation initiative and strengthen border security, which resonated with many voters.
Trump’s appeal was especially strong among Latino men, with exit polls estimating that 54% voted for him, while 44% supported Harris. Fernando Rivera, director of the Puerto Rico Research Hub at the University of Central Florida, noted that Trump’s economic messaging particularly resonated with young Latino men.
Ultimately, Trump’s promise of economic recovery and stricter immigration policies won over a significant portion of Latino voters, one of the country’s fastest-growing voting blocs. “Our movement is bigger, stronger, and more diverse than ever—with real, working-class Americans, including Hispanics,” said Vianca Rodriguez, Trump campaign deputy director of Hispanic communications.
