Trump’s Surprising Appeal among Hispanics: Democrats Have Ignored Their Own Failings

The day after the 2016 election, Democrats weren’t the only ones who thought Trump was, if not explicitly racist, at least xenophobic. I personally knew immigrants who felt as if their beloved adoptive country had just voted to unwelcome them, which was heartbreaking to see. Of course, the vast majority of Trump supporters were not anti-Hispanic. But many on both sides of the political divide thought Trump’s abrasive nationalism might be driving away more Hispanics than either he or the Republican Party could afford to lose.

And yet exit polls soon showed something remarkable. Trump had done quite well among Hispanics. He increased the GOP share of the Hispanic vote above Mitt Romney’s performance in 2012. In fact, Trump did as well in 2016 as John McCain had in 2008, and McCain was a charter member of the “gang of eight” senators who had pushed for comprehensive immigration reform, including amnesty for illegal immigrants, during George W. Bush’s second term.

About the Author

Mario Loyola

Mario Loyola is a professor of environment at Florida International University and a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

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Donald Trump

2020

The day after the 2016 election, Democrats weren’t the only ones who thought Trump was, if not explicitly racist, at least xenophobic. I personally knew immigrants who felt as if their beloved adoptive country had just voted to unwelcome them, which was heartbreaking to see. Of course, the vast majority of Trump supporters were not anti-Hispanic. But many on both sides of the political divide thought Trump’s abrasive nationalism might be driving away more Hispanics than either he or the Republican Party could afford to lose.

And yet exit polls soon showed something remarkable. Trump had done quite well among Hispanics. He increased the GOP share of the Hispanic vote above Mitt Romney’s performance in 2012. In fact, Trump did as well in 2016 as John McCain had in 2008, and McCain was a charter member of the “gang of eight” senators who had pushed for comprehensive immigration reform, including amnesty for illegal immigrants, during George W. Bush’s second term.