In the 2024 election, President Donald Trump was closer to winning a majority of Latino voters than any Republican lawmaker in modern history. According to an analysis conducted by the Pew Research Center for effective voters, he was 48% for Latinos, compared to 51% for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. This roughly tied figure is in stark contrast to the 2020 election in which Joe Biden defeated Trump by 25 points among Latino voters.
The numbers tell a deeper story. Latino voters are no longer guaranteed constituencies for both parties. Many of them are young and working classes who are unhappy with housing costs, wage stagnation, and unfulfilled political commitments. A study by the civil rights group UnidosUS shows that more Latinos are either working independently or splitting tickets according to those who think they will solve problems that matter to them.
This reality is restructuring the political power of Latinos and will affect elections at local, state and national levels.
In 2025, seven Latino lawmakers were historically elected to the Senate and 45 Latino lawmakers to the House. Cuban-American Marco Rubio made history this year after serving as the senator for many years, being nominated as the first Latinx secretary of state. And his former nemesis, Trump, has declared his Cuban immigrant son, including his grandfather, who had been illegally staying for several years, as his potential successor in 2028.
Meanwhile, on the Democrats, House Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is gaining early attention as a Democratic candidate for the 2028 presidential election. The daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants and native of the Bronx, New York, released a campaign-style video featuring images of her raiding around the US with Senator Bernie Sanders this spring. She doesn’t rule out everything from running for top office to overthrowing Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer.
Whether on the ground or in the election, a new generation of Latino leaders and voters appear, both are ready to take them seriously.
Search for results
“All Latino issues are American issues,” says California Sen. Alex Padilla. Padilla, the son of Mexican immigrants, says the promotion of Latino political power cannot be stopped by representation alone. That must be translated into results. In June he was physically removed from the Department of Homeland Security press conference, highlighting the personal nature of the bet for him. He cites rising housing costs, stagnant wages and years of stagnation in immigration reform as evidence that communities can no longer rest on their election promises.
In Florida, Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar is trying to balance safety and compassion. Salazar, the daughter of Cuban immigrants, says her community knows the damage caused by fear and breaking promises. She argues that Latinos want a safe community, an opportunity to build wealth, and immigration law that recognizes their contributions. “We are not a special interest group,” she says. “We are the core of American history. We are not awake and we don’t want alms.”
Her colleague in the House of Representatives, Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzalez agrees. The Republican lawmaker represents districts that span urban, rural and energy-producing regions. He cites programs that strengthen schools and support veterans as examples of ways to reach people across partisanship. “Meet people, listen and suggest real solutions,” Gonzalez said. “Learn about important issues and provide practical solutions and ideas.”
Same problem, different approaches
Padilla says that if the Latino community is still waiting for real change, it is not enough to retain titles and talk about traditions. “It means not just so-called Latino issues like immigration, but policy decisions will be at every table that affects our community,” he says. “No one will come to save us except us.”
Meanwhile, Salazar is not grossed at urging his party to think bigger. She argues that Latinos have the right to consider them as Republicans with values rooted in faith, freedom and family. “You don’t have to wait for permission. Step up. Be bold,” she says. “Our community needs warriors who protect their faith, freedom, and family. Your accent, your story, your roots, those are your strengths.”
Padilla rebels against the idea that only one party can win Latino voters. “Americans live in a historic era of presidential overreach, and perhaps no community has experienced such a bad situation as the Latinos,” he says. “We can’t take Latino voters or other voters for granted. We have to attend every year, all year.”
