New NBC News/Telemundo polling finds Latino men who helped boost Donald Trump in 2024 are shifting away from him ahead of the 2026 midterms: just 33% approve of his performance while 64% disapprove. Democrats now lead Latino voters by 24 points on the generic congressional ballot. Economic concerns and backlash to immigration enforcement are primary drivers of the decline, and both parties plan intensified outreach as Latino voters appear highly motivated.
Latino Men Who Helped Elect Trump in 2024 Are Turning Away, New Poll Shows
President Donald Trump speaks during an event at Butler High School in Vandalia, Ohio, on October 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
A new NBC News/Telemundo poll finds that many Latino men who helped propel Donald Trump to the White House in 2024 are cooling toward him ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The survey shows steep declines in Trump’s personal standing among Latino men and widespread dissatisfaction across the broader Latino electorate, driven largely by concerns about the economy and immigration enforcement.
Key Findings
The NBC News/Telemundo survey reports that just 33% of Latino men approve of President Trump’s job performance while 64% disapprove. On the generic congressional ballot, Latino voters favor Democrats by 24 points (59% to 35%). Overall, Trump’s approval among all Latino voters is 27% with 69% disapproving.
Issue Ratings
Latino respondents expressed particular dissatisfaction with economic and immigration performance: 74% disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, 78% disapprove of his handling of the cost of living, and 69% disapprove of his handling of immigration. Nearly two-thirds (65%) say Trump’s policies have hurt economic conditions, and 63% say their household income is falling behind the cost of living. On immigration enforcement, 67% say measures have gone too far, while 22% endorse the administration’s approach.
Demographics And Motivation
Latino women remain more Democratic than Latino men, but both groups now view the president largely unfavorably. Democrats hold a 31-point advantage among Latino women and a 16-point advantage among Latino men on the generic congressional ballot. The poll also finds high motivation among Latino voters: 72% rate their interest in the upcoming election a 10/10, and 54% say their vote will signal opposition to Trump.
Voters line up to enter their polling place at the Cincinnati Observatory on Election Day on November 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. |AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File
Context From Other Polls And Experts
Other surveys mirror this pattern. Civiqs reports 59% of Hispanic and Latino men disapprove of Trump (36% approve). A UnidosUS poll of 3,000 Latino registered voters found Trump’s approval among Latino men at 34% and disapproval at 64%.
Matt A. Barreto, faculty director, UCLA Voting Rights Project: "Trump made sweeping promises in 2024 about lowering the cost of living and healthcare costs that have not materialized. Latinos — men in particular — are viewing elections through the lens of affordability."
Harry Enten, CNN data analyst: "The historic gains Trump saw among Hispanic men have largely evaporated — driven primarily by economic dissatisfaction."
Charles Venator-Santiago, political scientist, University of Connecticut: "Trump connected with Latino men in 2024 by addressing concrete economic issues and appealing to traditional leadership styles. But immigration enforcement remains a serious liability."
What This Means
A reversal among Latino men could have major implications for competitive House districts and statewide contests in Texas, Nevada and Florida. Pollsters note that while Trump’s personal approval among Latinos has dropped, some Republican gains since 2024 remain higher than pre-2024 levels — suggesting the GOP retains inroads even as dissatisfaction with the president grows.
Methodology
The NBC News/Telemundo poll surveyed 800 registered Latino voters from September 21–28 via a mix of telephone interviews and an online survey delivered by text message. Twenty percent of interviews were conducted in Spanish. The poll’s margin of error is ±3.5 percentage points.
News outlets and analysts say both parties are expected to intensify outreach to Latino voters ahead of the midterms, and strategists will be watching whether Democrats can convert current dissatisfaction into lasting support or if Republicans keep the gains they made in 2024.
Newsweek reported seeking comment from the White House, the Hispanic Federation and Voto Latino. The White House has previously pointed to the 2024 election results and its economic messaging in defense of the administration’s record.
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