The Fight To Push Latinos Right

In the past four years, approximately 4 million Latino Americans have become eligible to vote, making the Latino population account for 14.7% of all eligible voters. This increasingly independent cohort is up for grabs, and one conservative Latino-focused PAC intends to win them over.

The bloc was a key part of the coalition that helped deliver President Joe Biden to the White House in 2020. In 12 of the 13 states with the largest Latino populations, Latinos supported Biden over former President Donald Trump by a margin of at least two to one. And in nine of the 13 states, that margin was at least three to one. Only in Florida was Biden’s margin less than two to one.

Biden achieved no extraordinary feat with these numbers – Latinos have historically voted Democrat. But recent polling suggests Latino voters are increasingly moving away from Democratic candidates – and toward independents. Pew Research polling from July showed that 36% of all registered Latinos supported Biden and 36% supported Trump, while 24% supported independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“What was happening on the Democratic side is that an increasing number of people …[were] choosing more independent,” Clarissa Martinez, a voting expert with the advocacy group UnidosUS, told NPR. “[That] took away support from the traditional 60% level that Democrats have enjoyed, but it wasn’t translating directly as support on the Republican side.”

Now, as the country hurdles toward November at breakneck speed, the Koch-funded Libre Advocacy Group is trying to convince Latino voters that they should support the Republican Party at the ballot box…

Originally Published in Real Clear Politics