TCJA in Georgia and Beyond: The Future of the Latino Vote Rests on GOP Economic Follow-Through

-Stefanie Zaenker, Strategic Director for The LIBRE Initiative Georgia

Latino families in Georgia are working hard to build better futures – for their children, their businesses, and their communities. Their number one issue leading into last year’s election was the economy.

The 2024 elections confirmed the rightward shift among Latino voters when they voted in historic numbers for Republican Donald Trump, who promised to lower taxes, create more jobs, and strengthen the economy.

But we are all still facing real economic pressures: high grocery bills, spiraling rents, and the looming threat of higher taxes. That’s why expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) should alarm everyone who cares about economic prosperity -especially for Georgia’s rapidly growing Latino population. Republicans need to deliver on their promise to fix the economy in order to keep their growing support among Latino voters.

The TCJA was passed in 2017 and gave a necessary boost to working families and small business owners by lowering individual tax rates, expanding the Child Tax Credit, and stimulating entrepreneurial growth through strategic deductions. These policies translated into real savings for Latino households across Georgia – it meant more money for school supplies, business expansion, or simply putting food on the table. These tax provisions are set to expire at the end of 2025, but the good news is that last Wednesday the House passed ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ which includes a permanent extension of the TCJA.

Now, it’s up to the Senate to stay on track and deliver results.

Whether Georgia’s Senators vote to deliver these critical tax cuts for their constituents is another story entirely.

Democrat Senator Jon Ossoff is up for reelection in 2026, and his voting record in the Senate all but predicts his party-line ‘no’ vote on this critical tax relief for Georgia families. Letting the TCJA expire would not only raise taxes for his hardworking constituents – it would stifle job creation and Georgia’s economy would take a direct hit. As we head into the 2026 Senate election it’s important to ask ourselves: Can we afford to support a Senator that votes against the prosperity of his own constituents?

Latinos in Georgia are a dynamic community of workers, innovators, leaders, and job creators. Their businesses – from construction and tech companies in Atlanta to family-owned restaurants and shops in cities with high Latino populations like Dalton, Gainesville, Lilburn, and Savannah – are essential to the state’s economic landscape. 1 in 4 new businesses opened are Latino-owned – they are the backbone of small business growth in the United States.

Here in Georgia Latinos contribute around 60 billion per year to our already strong and growing state economy. With the success of the TCJA in 2017 we’ve seen firsthand how lowering taxes and cutting red tape unlocks growth and innovation and gives younger generations a real shot at achieving their American Dream.

If the GOP fulfills its commitment to reigniting economic growth, reducing inflation, and extending the tax relief that helps small businesses thrive, they will continue expanding the support of Latino voters in Georgia and across the country. Passing the TCJA is a critical step in keeping that support, but persistent and meaningful outreach to the Latino community is just as important in the long run. Latinos vote with their values and wallets, and they are paying attention.

The recent election results confirm that the Democrats took their Latino support for granted and coasted on longtime voter loyalty. So where does this leave them? In order to remain competitive they have to regroup and move beyond the hollow theatrics of identity politics. For decades their strategy has rested on the assumption that Latino voters will stay loyal without Democrats having actually delivered any results or having a clear economic vision.

Latinos want policies that lower costs, reward their hard work, and support entrepreneurs. If Democrats want to win back this vote, they need to stand for something other than free handouts and divisive slogans – something like a practical economic agenda might be a good place to start.

It’s important to remember that the Latino vote in Georgia is not guaranteed for either party. The party that offers a serious plan to help families build wealth, grow businesses, and achieve the American Dream will succeed in gaining their trust. Based on US Census data, the Latino demographic is projected to comprise almost 30% of the total US population by 2050.

The significance of that number on the country’s future ideological path is both striking and inspiring. If Republicans continue with outreach and deliver on extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, not only will they prevent the largest tax increase in American history, but they’ll be poised to make history by securing most of the Latino vote in the next election and for decades to come.