New Hart Research/Univision polling, reported by Axios, shows Latino voters nationwide are growing dissatisfied with President Trump’s second-term performance. 62% of Hispanic respondents disapprove of his immigration policies, while roughly two-thirds disapprove of his handling of the economy. The shift has translated into weakened support for GOP congressional candidates in key Texas and Florida districts, reversing earlier 2024 gains.
Latino Support For Trump Fades Fast After 2024 Surge, New Poll Finds
AP News
DALLAS — Eleven years ago, when Donald Trump descended the gilded escalator at his Manhattan tower to launch his presidential bid, he shocked and outraged many by describing Mexican immigrants in sweeping, inflammatory terms.
The remarks were part of a broader populist pitch that included a vow to build a "big beautiful wall" on the U.S.–Mexico border. The rhetoric helped energize his base, even as it risked alienating a rapidly growing Hispanic electorate.
"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best," Trump said in 2015. "They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
Polls Show The 2024 Latino Surge Is Receding
Despite surprising gains among Latino voters in 2024, new polling suggests that support has already begun to crack. A Hart Research/Univision survey, first reported by Axios, finds rising dissatisfaction with President Trump's performance during his second term across Latino communities nationwide.
What Voters Say
Two issues stand out. The first is immigration: 62% of Hispanic respondents disapprove of the administration's immigration policies. The second is the economy: roughly two-thirds of Latinos disapprove of Trump's handling of economic matters—an especially damaging trend for an incumbent party.
Down-Ballot Impact
That discontent is spilling over to Republican congressional candidates. In Texas, where party leaders gathered this week to try to reverse the trend, Latino voters in three key districts moved from a self-reported 44-44 split in the 2024 presidential race to 56-36 in Democrats' favor, Axios reported. In Florida, two once-even swing districts now show Latino support down by about 13 percentage points for Republican congressional hopefuls.
Historical Echoes And 2026 Stakes
The dynamics echo earlier political moments when Republican candidates courted Hispanic voters with populist appeals. In the 1960s and 1980s, Ronald Reagan used the slogan "Ya basta?" (roughly, "Had enough?") to tap into voter frustration and win substantial Hispanic support. If Trump were to recapture that level of Hispanic backing, it could reshape the 2026 map. But the new polling paints a different picture: the Latino surge that helped the GOP in 2024 may be short-lived.
Implication: Immigration enforcement and economic dissatisfaction are driving a measurable pivot among Latino voters in battleground districts—an early warning sign for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterms.
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