Poll snapshot: An NBC News/Telemundo survey of 800 registered Latino voters finds Democrats leading 59% to 35% for control of Congress and President Trump's approval among Latinos at 27%. Cost of living is the top concern (33%), and 65% say Trump's policies have hurt the economy. Two-thirds view his immigration enforcement as excessive, while 83% support deporting undocumented immigrants who commit serious crimes. Latino interest in the midterms has risen, with 72% rating their interest a 10/10 and 54% saying their vote signals opposition to Trump.
Poll: Latino Voters Back Democrats 59%–35% for Control of Congress; Trump Approval at 27%
A Vote Here/Aqui sign is posted at a polling place at a church after the polls opened before sunrise on November 05, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
An NBC News/Telemundo poll finds Latino voters favoring Democrats 59% to 35% for control of Congress, while President Donald Trump's approval among Latino voters sits at 27%.
The survey of 800 registered Latino voters, conducted Sept. 21–28 by Democratic pollster Aileen Cardona-Arroyo (Hart Research Associates) and Republican pollster Micah Roberts (Public Opinion Strategies), was carried out by telephone and via an online questionnaire sent by text message. The margin of error is ±3.5 percentage points.
Top Issues and Approval Ratings
Cost of living and inflation are the top concerns for Latino voters, with 33% naming it their primary issue. Disapproval of Trump's handling of the cost of living is highest at 78%, followed by his handling of the economy (74%), immigration (69%) and foreign policy (68%).
Of the five issues tested, border security is the strongest for Trump, but a majority still disapprove: 58% disapprove of his handling of the border while 39% approve. When asked about the economic impact of Trump's policies, 65% say his policies have hurt economic conditions for Latinos and 23% say they have helped.
Views on Immigration and Deportation
Immigration ranks lower among top priorities, yet the poll shows strong opinions on enforcement: roughly two-thirds say Trump's immigration enforcement measures have gone too far, while 22% say he has taken the right approach. On deportation specifics, 83% support deporting undocumented immigrants who have committed serious crimes, while 37% support deporting every undocumented immigrant in the country.
Voters are split on which party would better handle border security, indicating similar confidence in Democrats and Republicans on that specific issue.
Trends, Turnout and Motivation
Compared with two years ago, Latino attitudes have shifted: two years earlier, Latino voters gave Trump a four-point advantage over then-Vice President Kamala Harris on handling the economy; in this poll, Democrats hold a 21-point advantage on economic competence. Democrats' 24-point lead on control of Congress in this survey is double NBC's margin at the same point in 2024, though smaller than their lead at a comparable point in 2018.
Negative views of both parties have risen: 62% of Latino voters view the Republican Party negatively (up 16 points from two years ago), and 42% view the Democratic Party negatively (up 4 points).
Interest in the midterm elections is notably higher than two years ago: 72% of Latino voters rate their interest in the November midterms a 10 out of 10, up from 54% at this point in 2024. When asked about their motivation, 54% say their midterm vote is intended to signal opposition to Trump, while 21% say their vote is meant to signal support.
Political Context
Republicans still draw more Latino support than in any NBC News poll between 2012 and the 2024 election cycle, reflecting gains Trump made with some Latino voters in 2024. Telemundo reported that Republican strategists emphasized those Latino gains when redrawing districts in Florida and Texas to retain the House majority; some heavily Latino districts that looked solidly Republican in 2024 now appear competitive heading into the midterms.
Pollsters' take: Cardona-Arroyo said any Democratic gains in November are likely to come more from opposition to Trump and dissatisfaction with the economy than from strong enthusiasm for Democratic policies. Roberts described Latino voters as a highly volatile swing group.
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