Latina Voters Help Drive Democratic Wins in Texas and Beyond
Democrats made major gains among Latina voters in the November 3 midterms, with the movement helping James Talarico win a Texas Senate seat and Gina Hinojosa defeat Gov. Greg Abbott. In Texas, Talarico won 55% to 43% over Ken Paxton, while Hinojosa prevailed by seven points statewide. Democrats also gained ground in parts of the Rio Grande Valley that backed Donald Trump in 2024.
A UnidosUS survey of 3,000 Latino midterm voters found that one in five Latinas who supported Trump in 2024 switched to Democrats. Latinas gave Democratic Senate candidates an advantage of more than 40 points, a margin reflecting both voters who changed sides and those who stayed home. The survey also found Latinas backed Democratic House candidates at higher rates than Latino men.
Voters and political organizers described economic pressure and the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown as factors behind the shift. Round Rock resident Lucero Loera said she changed her view of Trump after concluding he was focused on control rather than the public. Another Texas voter, Juliana Escudero, said enforcement had affected the staffing agency where she works, but she did not plan to vote because she was uncomfortable with the Democratic candidates’ positions.
The change was especially pronounced in border counties. Talarico won Starr County, which Trump carried by 16 points in 2024, by 56 points. In Hidalgo County, he received 73% of the vote, while Hinojosa won 71%. Democrats also elected Bobby Pulido to a Rio Grande Valley House seat and held districts targeted by Republican redistricting.
UnidosUS said immigration ranked behind the economy when Latino voters were asked about their top concerns, but anger over enforcement repeatedly surfaced in conversations. Voto Latino said it registered 412,000 Latino voters in Texas since the 2024 election. Projections suggest 2026 could set a record for Latino turnout in a midterm, though a clearer count will take weeks.
Latina Voters Reject GOP Immigration Crackdown and Deliver Democratic Wins
The Republican grip on Latino voters fractured in the November 3 midterms, as Latina voters helped propel James Talarico to a Texas Senate victory and Gina Hinojosa to the governorship. Talarico defeated Ken Paxton 55% to 43%, while Hinojosa beat Greg Abbott by seven points statewide. Their gains show the cost of an immigration crackdown that voters say has reached into workplaces and communities.
A UnidosUS survey of 3,000 Latino voters found that one in five Latinas who backed Trump in 2024 switched to Democrats. Latinas gave Democratic Senate candidates a margin of more than 40 points, and supported Democratic House candidates at higher rates than Latino men. The results came as Democrats also won in Texas border territory that Trump carried two years earlier.
In Starr County, which Trump won by 16 points in 2024, Talarico prevailed by 56 points. He took 73% in Hidalgo County, while Hinojosa won 71%. Democrats also gained a Rio Grande Valley House seat with Bobby Pulido’s victory and held districts Republicans had tried to redraw to their advantage.
Voters described economic worries and immigration enforcement as connected pressures. Lucero Loera of Round Rock said she had reconsidered Trump after seeing his approach as focused on control. Juliana Escudero said enforcement affected the staffing agency where she works, though she stayed out of the election because she was uncomfortable with the Democratic candidates’ positions.
The economy ranked ahead of immigration as a top concern in the UnidosUS survey, but anger about enforcement surfaced repeatedly in voter conversations. Voto Latino said it registered 412,000 Latino voters in Texas since 2024. The results challenge Republicans’ claim to lasting gains in the community and show the political cost of policies that voters see as harming families and livelihoods.
Democrats Rebound With Latino Voters After Years of Neglect
Democrats reclaimed ground with Latino voters in Texas after years of taking the Rio Grande Valley for granted. James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton 55% to 43% in the Senate race, while Gina Hinojosa beat Greg Abbott by seven points. The results came after Democrats focused on showing up in communities where Republicans had made substantial gains in 2024.
A UnidosUS survey of 3,000 Latino midterm voters found that one in five Latinas who supported Trump in 2024 switched to Democrats. Latinas gave Democratic Senate candidates a margin of more than 40 points. In Texas, Talarico won Starr County by 56 points, despite Trump carrying it by 16 points two years earlier, and took 73% in Hidalgo County.
Talarico said he visited the region often and argued Democrats had previously taken Latino voters and the Valley for granted. Voto Latino said it registered 412,000 Latino voters in Texas since 2024 and organized a rally featuring Talarico, Hinojosa and Los Tigres del Norte. The group’s leader said the community should not be assumed to belong to either party.
Economic anxiety and anger about immigration enforcement both shaped voter reactions. Talarico acknowledged frustration with the Biden administration’s border record while pointing to concern about masked officers using unmarked vehicles. One former Trump voter said enforcement had affected the staffing agency where she works, but declined to support either Democratic candidate because she felt they were too far left.
Democrats also gained a Rio Grande Valley House seat with Bobby Pulido’s win and held districts Republicans had redrawn to favor their party. Latinas’ movement helped Democrats across several states, but the Texas results also underline how quickly political loyalties can shift when candidates fail to address voters’ economic concerns and local priorities.
Reported by The 19th, Daily Mail US.
