The Myth of a Unified Latino or Hispanic Vote
A unified Latino or Hispanic vote in U.S. politics is a myth. This article explores how Latin Americans and Hispanics’ diverse backgrounds, experiences, and priorities make any singular political identity implausible and why politics must move beyond identity-based assumptions.
The Illusion of a Monolithic Vote
The concept of a “Latino vote” has been used in American elections to describe a group of individuals who come from countries in Latin America and Spain. It’s a term that assumes this large and diverse group of people can be categorized as one homogenous voting bloc that can swing elections. But that’s too simplistic and tends to underestimate how culturally, politically, and socially diverse the community is. That the whole Latino voter goes along is blind to the uniqueness of its own constituency.
When we talk about the “Latino vote,” we’re not just referring to a single, homogenous group. We’re lumping together people from vastly different backgrounds, from Mexican Americans in Texas to Cubans in Florida and Venezuelans in New York. This complex tapestry of diversity, with each individual bringing their unique experiences, identities, and political orientations to the table, is what truly defines the Latino community. The truth is, when it comes to voting, there is no one Latino or Hispanic vote – only a variety of voices with their own concerns and interests.
It’s tempting to simplify and categorize groups of voters, but doing so misses the nuance that defines the Latino community. Just as past generations of immigrants—Irish, Italian, Polish—were once seen as a monolithic voting bloc, the same mistake is being made with Latinos today. Over time, these immigrant communities assimilated into American life, and their political identities shifted, becoming more reflective of personal values and circumstances rather than their ethnic heritage. That’s the same thing happening with Latinos, who are not a static, monolithic entity, but a dynamic and evolving group, increasingly different geographically and politically.
The reality is that there is no one “Latino vote.” And some people have their own opinions. Parties that do not see this will lose voters, not win them.
What Does “Latino” and “Hispanic” Really Mean?
Before we dig deeper into why the idea of a unified Latino vote is misguided, it’s essential to understand what the terms “Latino” and “Hispanic” mean and how they differ. “Hispanic” is generally used in the U.S. to describe people who come from Spanish-speaking countries, which includes Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and much of Central and South America. On the other hand, the term “Latino” (or “Latina” for women) refers to people from Latin America, which can include countries like Brazil, where Portuguese is the primary language rather than Spanish.
The challenge with these labels is that they don’t only fit some. While the term “Latino” might apply to most people from Latin America, it excludes Brazilians, who share many cultural values with their Spanish-speaking neighbors but have a different linguistic background. Even within Spanish-speaking communities, there’s a wide variety of identities and experiences. For example, a Mexican American from Los Angeles may have a completely different view on life than a Cuban-American from Miami or a Colombian-American from New Jersey. These differences are shaped by immigration status, family traditions, economic background, and cultural values, which make it impossible to generalize their political leanings.
It may be a convenient assumption for political strategists who dole out strategies in a one-size-fits-all style, but it is both incorrect and reductive to ascribe an individual’s lived experiences based solely on shared linguistic or geographical origins when predicting voting patterns.
The Changing Face of the Hispanic Population
The Latino population in the United States is often seen as a homogenous group by many political strategists, but this view fails to reflect the reality of their diversity. According to Pew Research, the U.S. Hispanic population reached 65.2 million in 2023, about 19% of the total population. A majority of this group was born in the U.S., indicating that many Latinos are fully integrated into American society and are less likely to vote based solely on their cultural or ethnic background.
Gone are the days when Hispanics were stereotyped as primarily agricultural workers. While this still holds true for some of the population, many Latinos today are well-educated professional doctors, lawyers, accountants, and business owners. Many are part of the middle class, and their priorities are not necessarily driven by ethnic identity but by issues such as economic freedom and personal opportunity. Immigrants from Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, and others, for instance, are fleeing socialist or political repression for a life in which they can design their own futures free of the coercion of collectivist policies.
The voting pattern captures this change of values. Many Latinos prioritize economic freedom over social issues and are more likely to support candidates who advocate for policies that foster individual agency and opportunities for personal success. For example, many Venezuelan Americans have become strong supporters of conservative values due to their experiences living under a socialist government. Similarly, Colombians, having fled years of drug violence and instability, are more likely to support law-and-order policies and economic reforms that they believe will allow them to prosper in the U.S.
The diversity within the Latino population will only continue to grow, making it harder for political parties to rely on identity-based strategies. Like all Americans, Latinos have their own ideas, concerns, and political views, which means they can’t be easily categorized or swayed as part of a monolithic voting bloc.
The Dangers of Treating Latinos as a Voting Bloc
The Latino myth that Latinos are monolithic voters has caused a lot of political messes, including in the Democratic Party. The Democrats have for decades touted identity politics among Latino voters — and assumed that they are naturally progressives because they have long been marginalized and excluded. But that strategy has failed because Latinos are politically pluralist and egalitarian. Treating Latinos as a voting bloc can lead to oversights in policy development and campaign strategies, potentially alienating a significant portion of the Latino community.
In the 2020 presidential election, for instance, about 45% of Latinos backed Donald Trump, who has been mired in controversy on immigration. It isn’t a surprise, but this shows that Latinos care less about social policies than they do about economic access and the rule of law. Trump’s hardline immigration record appealed to some Latino voters more concerned with his economic policies, though not everyone supported everything he said.
This political division was all the more apparent in the 2022 midterms when Latino Democrats suffered in swing states. Inflation, crime, education, healthcare – those things started mattering more than the old platitudes that Democrats were so fond of. Many Latinos had grown tired of the Democratic Party’s inability to listen to them, and the Republican Party’s emphasis on economic liberation and individual freedom began to resonate more strongly.
This schism of the Latino population underscores the risks of assuming that every Latino is the same way or concerns itself with the same kinds of things. If parties don’t recognize this variety, they alienate many citizens. The Democratic Party, which remains the party of Latinos, a monolithic unit, will ultimately lose the votes it is counting on.
Conclusion: Moving Beyond Identity Politics
That monopoly “Latino vote” myth rests on outdated identity politics that doesn’t represent an evolving community of different sorts anymore. And as the Latino population in the United States grows, so does the array of their political preferences and priorities. No longer can party leaders count on old-school stereotypes and hierarchical Latino coding if they are to be effective with Latinos.
Politicians who want to resonate with Latino voters must stop using the same generic terms and accept the broad diversity of their opinions. Issues like economic opportunity, healthcare, education, and national security resonate with Latinos just as they do with all Americans. If political parties recognize this, they can avoid losing touch with an essential and growing portion of the electorate.
Also read: Teacher, Vet, and Lawyer Battle for Uruguay’s Presidential Seat Facing Security Concerns
The idea of a unified Latino or Hispanic vote is a political construct that no longer holds true in a dynamic and diverse community. As demographics continue to shift, it’s time for political discourse to evolve and recognize Latinos as individuals, each with unique experiences and aspirations.
