ICYMI: Melissa Morales Highlights Growing Disconnect Between Trump-Vance Administration and Latino Voters' Economic Priorities in Recent Interview and Op-Ed
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Somos Votantes Founder and President Melissa Morales spoke with Tim Farley on SiriusXM and published a new op-ed in Democracy Journal, offering crucial insights into Latino voters’ shifts in the current political landscape and underscoring the growing disconnect between the Trump-Vance Administration’s policies and Latino voters’ economic priorities. Both came on the heels of Somos’ groundbreaking national poll—the first to focus on Latino voter sentiment following the 2024 election.
Melissa argues Democrats have a clear path to regain and expand power —“but only if they are willing to take action, run the programs, and invest in the states while carrying a bold economic message.
Excerpts from Melissa’s recent interview and op-ed below — if you are interested in connecting with Melissa to discuss these issues, please reach out to press@somosvotantes.org.
On what influenced the Latino vote in 2024:
“The reality is that many people did not vote for Trump—they voted for change, for something different from what they were experiencing. Because living paycheck to paycheck, struggling with crushing debt, drowning in health-care or child-care costs, and always being one medical emergency away from bankruptcy is not sustainable.
If we truly believe that working people are the backbone of our economy and the heroes of our American economic story, then the fact that our policies have left working people behind to the point where the relief my dad felt that day led to such an intense physical and emotional reaction is absolutely unacceptable. It leaves people susceptible to politicians like Trump.” (Democracy Journal)
On how Democrats can win the Latino vote:
“Moving forward, Democrats must do two things. One: They must lead with a sweeping economic vision for the future that is backed by action and investment in communicating that vision. It is what people need and what Democrats must deliver. Democrats can and will win, but only if they are willing to take action, run the programs, and invest in the states while carrying a bold economic message. Organizations with local experience can point the way here—not only in states where heavy outreach and communication investments were made last year, like Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, and Wisconsin, but in neglected states like Florida and Texas.
And two, Democrats must ensure voters are acutely aware of how the Trump-Vance Administration’s policies are affecting their everyday economic lives as those policies are rolled out in the coming weeks, months, and years.” (Democracy Journal)
On the disconnect between the Trump-Vance Administration’s focus and Latino voters’ priorities:
“What we see is a pretty clear disconnect in the poll in priorities between the new Trump-Vance or honestly what feels like the Trump-Musk administration and Latino voters. In this poll, it's no surprise that we continue to hear from Latinos that the economy and specifically the cost of living is their top issue. It's the thing, top of their mind, that was true in November. It's true now… But it's on the economy where things become really interesting here when we look under the hood.
67% of Latinos in this poll rated the US economy as poor and over half said it's actively getting worse. Only 14% of Latinos in this poll said they are currently living comfortably in their everyday economic lives, which really highlights the amount of economic stress people are living under right now. So it's certainly where they want Donald Trump to be focused, but there is a clear disconnect here with Latino voters believing Trump is not focused on these economic concerns. Instead, they highlight that he is more focused on the US-Mexican border, on immigration, and on tariff issues.” (“P.O.T.U.S. Mornings” Interview)
On the issues that impacted the 2024 election results:
“It's more about the solutions. And the side that can present better economic solutions is who is going to win out at the end of the day. I do think that is why we saw some of the shifts that we saw last year. It is also the danger that is presented to Donald Trump in not focusing on that right now. And it's why we are starting to see some of those shifts back in these polls.” (“P.O.T.U.S. Mornings” Interview)
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About Somos Votantes
Somos Votantes is a Latino-led, Latino-focused organization that runs some of the largest independent Latino civic and voter engagement programs in the country. We envision a nation where hardworking Latinos have the opportunities and tools to fully participate in our democracy. Somos Votantes seeks to empower hardworking Latinos in shaping the future of our democracy, primarily through non-partisan civic engagement programs, by increasing our participation in elections and advocating for progressive policies. Visit https://www.somosvotantes.com/ for more information on this program and other projects, and follow the organization on Instagram, Facebook, and X.