The so-called “blue tsunami” that swept Republicans from state and federal office in the Nov. 3 midterms was driven by all sorts of Americans irate with President Donald Trump’s ever-worsening handling of issues ranging from the economy, immigration and, in some states, hot-button social justice issues.
More than 14 million Latino voters channeled rising fear and anger about inflation and brutal U.S. deportation policies into a double-digit swing that swept Hispanics into the governors’ offices in California and Texas and record numbers into the U.S. House of Representatives.
Janet Murguia
“I can’t help but reflect on the fact that President Trump asked voters across the country to pretend like he was on the ballot, and our observation is that Latino voters did just that by resoundingly rejecting his extreme policies and actions and anyone who rubber stamped them,” UnidosUS President Janet Murguia said during the Nov. 4 webinar release of post-election polling by BSP Research.
“In short, Latino voters sent a clear message about their anger and concern about the direction of our country, and our poll confirms that,” she said.
The survey of more than 3,000 Hispanic voters who cast midterm ballots was released in conjunction with the Latino Community Foundation.
As a group, Latinos accounted for more than half the nation’s growth in eligible voters since 2022 and were a major force in a dozen of the most competitive congressional districts in this election, researchers said.
Inflation and the cost of living were the top issues for 58% of Latinos polled. Food and grocery costs were the leading concern for 54%, followed by housing costs for 41% and gasoline prices for 38%.
“Half the Latino population has nothing left over after they pay their bills or are struggling to pay their bills each month,” said BSP President Gary Segura. “More than four in 10 expect that the continuation of Trump economic policies would make them worse off in the next year.”
Close to two-thirds said they believe Democrats “care a great deal” about Latinos while 70% said Republians either don’t care about the Hispanic community or are outright hostile toward it, he added.
Nearly all (90%) said they support a balanced approach to immigration policy that includes strong border security and interior enforcement, legal immigration channels and earned pathways to citizenship.
But 27% identified immigration reform and reigning in Immigration and Customs Enforcement as their top priority in the midterm election, while 76% wanted to see ICE agents wearing clear identification and uniforms and stop wearing masks. Nearly three-quarters said their civil rights are under threat and they feel they, their families and communities are targeted due to race, religion, language or immigration status.
Gary Segura
“The president continues to be underwater with Latino voters, and this has been true since just after his inauguration. Most (64%) view him unfavorably,” Segura said. Similarly, 60% said they viewed Republicans in Congress unfavorably.
As a result, Latino voters helped Gina Hinojosa rise to what The New York Times labeled “a seismic upset” over Texas Gov. Greg Abbot to become that state’s first Hispanic governor and the first Democrat to win the job since the 1990s.
And Democratic U.S. House candidates secured 67% of the Latino vote, 10 points more than that enjoyed by Kamala Harris during her 2024 presidential campaign, and helped send more than 50 Hispanics to Congress, “marking a historic moment for Latino representation and reshaping who has a seat at the table in Washington,” proclaimed the League of United Latin American Citizens.
Polling in other settings found young voters also were a factor in kicking Republicans out of their jobs, with seven in 10 under 30 years of age saying they voted for Democrats in local U.S. House races, PBS reported. “The (Associated Press) survey also suggests Republicans may have lost the ground Trump gained with Hispanic voters in 2024, though to a lesser extent than with younger voters.”
But in some states, support or opposition for social justice issues also lured many voters to the midterms.
Virginians voted to enshrine marriage equality, reproductive health care rights and voting rights for residents who complete felony sentences into the state’s constitution. The right to abortion was approved by at least 64% to 38% and the restoration of voting rights passed 56% to 43%. A 57% majority voted to repeal a provision limiting marriage to heterosexual couples, versus 43% who voted to approve.
“Choices about our bodies belong to us, not politicians — and today, Virginians voted to enshrine this simple but profound fact into our constitution,” said Jamie Lockhart, executive director of Planned Parenthood. “The protections offered by this amendment are critical in ensuring a future in which all Virginians are in control of their lives, bodies and futures, no matter who is in office.”
The American Civil Liberties Union said the midterms must be a catalyst for continuing opposition to ongoing efforts to limit basic freedoms.
“From key state Supreme Court races in Montana and North Carolina to state legislative races in Georgia and Montana, voters uniformly rejected candidates who threaten abortion rights and our right to vote,” the civil rights organization said. “Montanans voted to ensure judges are elected based on their record and qualifications — not politics.”
Jim Daly
However, ballot initiatives barring transgender student-athletes from girls’ sports were approved by voters in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska and Washington state.
Focus on the Family President Jim Daly lamented Republican losses in the election but was thankful for the successful anti-trans measures passed Nov. 3.
“We celebrate these common-sense safeguards for our children that not only serve to shield them from physical harm but also represent a victory for fairness,” Daly said. “Christians care deeply about election results because candidates either approve or reject critical policies that affect the well-being of the nation. In a diverse and dynamic country like ours, believers have a unique challenge to engage robustly in the process while always doing so confidently and charitably.”
Related:
When hope and history rhyme but justice hasn’t reached every shore | Opinion by Brian Henderson
This is for you, America | Opinion by Erich Bridges
Understanding the blue tsunami of the midterms | Analysis by Edmond Davis