Latino Voters Shift Away From Republican Party, New Poll Indicates

Why it matters locally: While national trends in voter behavior are always relevant, this particular shift could influence political strategies in Kansas, especially in areas with growing Latino populations, though direct state-specific impact on policy or elections is not immediate or guaranteed.

A recent poll indicates a decline in Latino voter support for Republican candidates since the 2020 presidential election. The survey, conducted by NBC News, the Wall Street Journal, and Telemundo, found that 28% of Latino registered voters would support a Republican candidate for Congress today. This figure represents a decrease from the 33% who favored a Republican candidate in October 2020. The poll also shows a corresponding increase in support for Democratic congressional candidates among Latino voters. The percentage of Latino registered voters indicating they would support a Democratic candidate rose to 61% in the latest survey, up from 57% in October 2020. In the 2020 election, Donald Trump received 38% of the Latino vote, according to the NBC News, Wall Street Journal, and Telemundo exit poll. The most recent poll suggests a change in that landscape. Latino voters’ views on Trump’s performance also registered a decline in approval. In October 2020, 39% of Latino registered voters approved of the job Trump was doing as president. The latest poll, conducted after Trump left office, found that 31% of Latino registered voters now hold a positive view of him. The shift in voter preference also extends to President Joe Biden. Among Latino registered voters, 48% approve of Biden’s job performance, while 48% disapprove. This contrasts with his overall approval rating among all registered voters in the same poll, where 42% approved and 50% disapproved. Furthermore, the survey asked Latino registered voters about their preferred choice for the 2024 presidential election. When asked to choose between Trump and Biden, 51% of Latino registered voters selected Biden, and 33% selected Trump. This represents a 10-point decrease in Trump's support compared to the 2020 exit poll results.