In a straightforward statement, a Texas mayor of Puerto Rican origin shared perspectives on why former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance are gaining support among Latino voters, attributing the trend to shared values like faith, family, and economic opportunity.
However, recent backlash over contentious remarks at a Trump rally has highlighted Latino support, with analysts questioning the impact of such rhetoric on the community’s voting patterns.
The backlash followed comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s performance at Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where he referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” and made other racially charged remarks.
Many media outlets and left-leaning commentators have tried to associate these statements with Trump, a tactic the Puerto Rican-born mayor suggests distracts from the core issues influencing Latino voter choices.
“As one of the few Mayors in this country who is actually Puerto Rican (born and raised), lets get real for a moment and let me offer an explanation as to why former President Trump and Ohio. Senator JD Vance is surging in the polls amongst Latinos, and why they’ll continue to do so through election day,” said the Mayor of Keller, Texas, Armin Mizani.
“Latinos are motivated by core values, not distractions,” Mizani said. “We’ve seen the choices laid out for us over the last few years.”
Mizani highlighted the stark differences that Latinos perceive between the Biden-Harris administration and the Trump era, especially regarding inflation, border security, economic opportunities, and respect for faith and family values.
“Under the Biden and Harris administration, Americans have seen record inflation, an open southern border, increased crime, the weakening of the family structure, and the taking away of God from our daily lives,” said Mizani.
“This is why, along with millions of Latinos, I will help re-elect President Trump to the White House,” Mizani stated, emphasizing that Latino voters could play a decisive role in the election’s outcome despite recent controversies.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos analysis shows former President Trump has made significant gains in support among Hispanic men, narrowing the gap with Democrats.
Trump now trails Vice President Kamala Harris by only 2 points among Hispanic men, with Harris at 46% and Trump at 44%.
This is a notable change from the 2020 election, where Trump trailed Democratic nominee Joe Biden by 19 points at a similar point in the race.
The analysis is based on over 15,000 responses from Reuters/Ipsos polls conducted in the past month, highlighting a pivotal shift in Latino voter dynamics as Election Day approaches.
