Republican gains among Latino voters face 2026 test in California

[RandySF]

From the far reaches of South Texas to the dense urban enclaves of northern New Jersey, Republicans made significant gains with working-class Latino voters last year.

The upcoming midterm elections will test the durability of that rightward shift — and whether it’s transferable to down-ballot Republicans running in a time of economic turbulence without Donald Trump at the top of the ticket.

In addition to Texas and New Jersey, Republicans have their sights on a handful of heavily Hispanic congressional districts in California. They range from a race in the San Joaquin Valley that is likely to be among the nation’s most competitive to an under-the-radar contest in a blue district in Southern California that could become a battleground as the election cycle unfolds.

“If [Republicans] can keep up the trend next year without Trump on the ballot, that could be the difference-maker in competitive races that we’re all used to talking about … and even start to pull solidly Democratic districts that we haven’t normally considered competitive … into the conversation,’’ Roll Call elections analyst Nathan L. Gonzales of Inside Elections said.





https://rollcall.com/2025/05/21/latino-voters-california-republicans-trump-midterms/

[Walleye]

1. I don't think it was the fact they were voting for Donny as much as they were voting against Kamala

Something to do with the macho culture, maybe kept them from voting for a woman?

[Auggie]

2. A lot of voters, I think, gravitate to the macho: physical, mental, and rhetorical

Since the first media election, Kennedy vs Nixon IMO, with a few exceptions.

A combination of all three or two or one -- depends on the opposing candidate. When that machismo/bravado is displayed authentically, all the better ... for a lot of voters.

Not us at D.U. But for a lot of voters.

[LauraInLA]

3. I think there is a real conservative social streak that we have ignored to our peril. And there is some definite

anti-immigrant sentiment. That said, I’m going to read the article now to learn which blue CA district they’re discussing.

P.S. OK, yes, the article mentions populism as a driving force rather than “conservatism” per se.