Latino Support for Democrats Hits Record Low Due to Economic Turmoil

Latino voters say they prefer Democrat control of Congress by just 21 points, a significant decline in support over the past decade.

A new NBC News/Telemundo poll shows that despite Latinos favoring Democrat control of Congress, Hispanic support for Democrats has plummeted over the past ten years, while GOP support continues to rise.

As of October, Latino voters say they prefer Democrat control of Congress by just 21 points, a significant decline in support over the past decade. Currently, just 54% of Latino voters say they prefer Democrat control of Congress while 33% prefer Republican control.

In the 2018 midterms, the same Telemundo poll found Hispanics favored Democratic control by 34 points, with 60% preferring Democratic control while 26% favored GOP control. In 2012, Hispanics favored Democratic control by a whopping 42 points, with 65% of the electorate preferring Democratic control and less than a quarter (23%) preferring GOP control.

Telemundo preferred outcomes Democratic pollster Aileen Cardona-Arroyo, who contributed to the survey said, “while Latinos continue to lean toward the Democratic Party and prefer Democratic control of Congress, Republicans have a higher share of the vote than we’ve measured previously.”

“While Latinos continue to lean toward the Democratic Party and prefer Democratic control of Congress, Republicans have a higher share of the vote than we’ve measured previously.”- Democratic Pollster Aileen Cardona-Arroyo

Latinos largely disapprove of Biden’s handling of defining issues this election including immigration and the economy, with younger voters and men giving Biden harsher marks than older voters and women.

Latinos disapprove of Biden’s handling of the cost of living 60% to 35%, and they disapprove of his handling of the economy 54% to 41%. Latinos also disapprove of Biden’s handling of border security and immigration 51% to 42%.

The same poll found Latinos say 39% to 33% that Biden’s economic policies have hurt more than they have helped and 54% of Latinos say their family income is declining due to rising living expenses.

Latinos say 39% to 33% that Biden’s economic policies have hurt more than they have helped and 54% say their family income is declining due to rising living expenses.

On three prevailing issues (the economy, border security and crime) Hispanics think the GOP would do a better job than the Democratic Party, while Hispanics say Democrats would do a better job on abortion and “protecting Democracy.”

Credit: Telemundo

According to the poll, the GOP had an edge on three out of four of the most important issues to Latinos – the cost of living, jobs and the economy and border security, while Democrats have an edge on threats to Democracy.

This exodus is concerning for Democrats hoping to increase their share of the Latino vote in future elections. The trajectory favors the GOP in future elections, with Democrats’ share of the Latino vote shrinking while the GOP’s share is rising.