Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump is showering in unexpected popularity among Hispanic Americans, a demographic that has traditionally leaned toward the Democrats. As the 2024 presidential election gears up, poll numbers are looking more like a piñata on the verge of bursting open for the Democratic Party, specifically for Vice President Kamala Harris. It appears that losing ground with this critical voting bloc could result in some serious heartburn for the left.
Recent polling from sources such as the New York Post indicates that Trump’s standing with Hispanic voters has taken a notable swing upwards since the last election. While he’s not necessarily leading Harris in the polls—Harris still enjoys a nominal lead of roughly 12 points—what’s significant is that the Democrats are losing support while Trump is gaining it. It seems that voters might be opting for the man with “big tweets” over the woman who can’t seem to find her footing.
🚨President Trump has gained a WHOPPING 17 points with Hispanics since 2020 according to a new Univision poll. This represents one of the most dramatic electoral transformations in American history.
Incredible.https://t.co/Js3DK4i059
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 1, 2024
To frame this even more dramatically, the gap has narrowed from the whopping 23 percentage point lead Biden had over Trump in the Hispanic community back in 2020. The Cook Political Report’s latest numbers show that Trump’s support among Hispanic voters is now statistically identical to where it was when Biden exited the race, which doesn’t bode well for Harris, who’s trying to convince voters she’s not just an upgrade of the Biden brand.
Harris has been raking in some slippage across the board, not just in the Hispanic demographic. The trends should cause alarm bells to ring in the Democratic camp, particularly since Hispanic Americans have been the Democrats’ secret weapon since Nixon was in office. They’ve managed to sway this voting group in their favor since 1972—except for one oddity in 2004. Yet now, with Trump capitalizing on his previous gains and Democrats muddling through, it looks like they might just be losing their edge.
The reason behind this shifting support could be as simple as bread and butter issues. Many communities heavily populated by Hispanic Americans are taking the brunt of the migrant crisis. Violent outbreaks and job competition are just a couple of nasties that hit these neighborhoods hard. Voters seem to be connecting the dots, realizing that an influx of migrants might mean fewer jobs for them and increased chances of crime in their neighborhoods. When presented with that reality, Trump’s positions on immigration start sounding like a party invitation, while Harris’s platitudes feel more like a list of excuses.
The storm clouds are brewing for the Democrats. With the 2024 election on the horizon, it’ll be fascinating to watch how this story unfolds. One thing is for sure: if Trump manages to build upon his gains with Hispanic voters, it could turn the traditionally blue wave of voters into a veritable red tide.
