The Latino vote in the US shifted towards the Republican Party in the 2024 election compared to 2020, contributing to Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. This change was not surprising, as support for the Democratic Party among Latinos has decreased in recent years. Latinos, who make up nearly 20 percent of the US population, were projected to have 36.2 million voters in this election. Despite a controversial joke about Puerto Rico made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump rally, Trump’s support among Latinos remained strong, especially in key battleground states like Pennsylvania. In the end, Trump won 51 percent of the Latino vote compared to Harris’s 47 percent.
The joke controversy sparked by Hinchcliffe’s comments led to demands for Trump to apologize, but his campaign distanced itself from the comedian’s remarks. Despite efforts to woo Latino voters, including Harris’s economic support plans for Puerto Rico and endorsements from popular Latino artists, Trump’s message on the economy and fears of socialism resonated with many Latino voters. Ideological concerns, particularly among immigrants from Cuba and Venezuela, also played a role in the shift towards the Republican Party.
Immigration was a key issue for Latino voters, with differing opinions on the impact of migrants on crime. While Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric appealed to some Latino Republicans, others had more nuanced views on the issue. Overall, the 2024 election saw a complex interplay of economic, ideological, and immigration concerns shaping the Latino vote in the US.