Latinos Approve of Trump at 27% Ahead of Midterms
A new survey shows growing dissatisfaction with the administration, which could influence the control of the House of Representatives on November 3.
By Kofi Costa ·
Latin American voters helped return Donald Trump to the White House in 2024. Now, this demographic group stands at the center of the upcoming midterm elections. The outcome of the race for the House of Representatives may hinge on districts with large Latino populations in states such as Arizona, Colorado, and Texas.
Recent polling data indicates a shift in support for the president. An NBC News and Telemundo survey published in October found that 69% of Latino voters disapprove of Trump’s job performance. Only 27% approve. The survey also revealed that 59% of these voters prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress, compared to 35% who favor the Republicans.
Economic concerns drive much of the dissatisfaction. The survey shows that 78% of Latino voters disapprove of how Trump handles the cost of living. Another 74% disapprove of his management of the economy. Among independent Latino voters, 72% believe Trump’s policies have harmed the economy, while just 10% say the policies have benefited them.
Immigration policy presents another point of friction. Two-thirds of Latino voters think the administration’s immigration control measures have gone too far. The survey found that 58% disapprove of the handling of border security. Additionally, 27% of respondents know someone who was detained or deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the past two years. Thirty-one percent say they or a close family member began carrying identification due to fear of ICE operations.
Clarissa Martínez De Castro, vice president of the Latino Vote Initiative, spoke to Telemundo about the economic pressures facing these communities. She stated that most Latinos are barely surviving despite working hard. She added that voters do not believe the president and his party are focusing enough on economic issues. She noted that voters are looking for candidates who offer solutions for working families and a dignified immigration system.
Ricardo Rauseo, press secretary for Somos Votantes, told EFE that voters expected change from the administration. He pointed out that prices have increased over the last two years. Rauseo emphasized that the expectation was for a different outcome than what has occurred so far.
The size of this voting bloc has grown. Pew Research Center projects that nearly 39 million Latinos are eligible to vote in the 2026 midterms. This represents an increase of more than 5.2 million voters compared to 2022, a growth of 16%. Mark Hugo Lopez, Pew’s director of research on race and ethnicity, noted that Latinos are the second largest group of eligible voters in the United States behind white voters. He suggested their impact could be larger in these congressional races than in previous presidential elections.
President Trump maintains a different view of his standing with this group. He told reporters that he and his government are doing well. He claimed to have a tremendous Hispanic vote. During a campaign trip to Texas on October 2, Trump defended his immigration stance. He said the administration must do what it has to do regarding mass deportations. The midterm elections are scheduled for November 3.
