Democratic-leaning Latino groups are grappling with Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s gains with Latino voters, especially Latino men, and the divide in Latino gender voting. Economic discontent was a significant driver for Latino men’s votes, with a focus on issues like raising wages, reducing costs of food, housing, and healthcare. Polling conducted by Latino advocacy groups showed different results compared to national exit polls, indicating Vice President Kamala Harris won the majority of Latino men. The NBC News Exit Poll reported Harris capturing 52% of Hispanic voters, while the coalition’s poll found her winning with 62% of Latino voters. There was a shift to Trump among Latino voters, but Latino advocates reject the narrative that Latino voters were instrumental in Trump’s victory. The dominant concerns for Latino voters were pocketbook issues, making a strategic reflection necessary for Democrats. Latino voters were more supportive of a Democratic or progressive agenda, including providing legal status to long-settled immigrants and passing a voting rights act. Despite Republican spending on anti-immigrant ads, Latino voters still strongly support legal status for long-settled immigrants. The discrepancies in polling results highlight the importance of understanding Latino voter preferences and policy support.
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