PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida — House Republicans are expressing confidence that they can continue to cut into Democrats’ stronghold over Hispanic voters, asserting the party will build upon the gains seen during the last election cycle.
While recent polling hasn’t shown a mass wave of Hispanic voters shifting toward the GOP, it has indicated Republicans have seen a sizable uptick in support from the Latino community. That could be enough to tip key House districts their way in the November midterm elections.
TOP HOUSE DEMOCRAT WARNS PARTY AGAINST TAKING LATINO VOTE FOR GRANTED
Hispanic GOP lawmakers cited Democrats’ handling of economic issues and the impact inflation has had on Latino families as a significant reason for the rise in support, which they feel will have a strong effect in the election in November.
“Among those that are suffering most [from rising costs] are the Hispanics in this country. The hard-working Hispanic population of this country, they can no longer afford, we can no longer afford the policies of the Left that have done nothing but create crisis after the crisis and the highest inflation in 40 years,” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican, told reporters during a press conference conducted in both Spanish and English. “This trend that we’ve been seeing of Hispanics voting Republican is going to be at record numbers.”
Rep. Tony Gonzales added that border security and immigration are also major topics resonating with Latino voters. He chided President Joe Biden’s administration and dismissed Democrats’ attacks that the GOP is anti-immigration.
“The Republican Party is the party of rule of law. We’re the party of safety and security,” said Gonzales, a Texas Republican. “We’re also a compassionate party that believes in legal immigration. That’s the part that this administration is failing to talk about, legal immigration.”
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Democrats have expressed concerns over retaining Hispanic voters. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Raul Ruiz recently said Democrats need to work to retain Latino support. Democrats should not take it for granted, Ruiz said during his party’s issues conference in Philadelphia earlier this month.
“There were some gains, percentage-wise and absolute wise, in different areas throughout the country with Hispanics voting along GOP lines,” he told reporters. “It is not conclusive, and there is still a lot of work that we need to do.”
Original Location: Republicans eye gains with Latino voters in November
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