Latino voters in South Texas told Daily Caller field reporter Jorge Ventura that they are shifting Republican over the Democrats’ out of touch stances on economic and cultural issues.
The majority of Latino voters interviewed are voting Republican for the first time, voicing concerns over record-high inflation and cultural and issues, which many have said has shifted too far to the left. Hispanic and Latino support has largely moved to the Republican Party in the past year after Democrats have held a strong hold on the demographic for decades.
“I’ve started to notice that a drastic change in culture views and on the family values and then after that, after the Trump presidency ended, we started to see really bad economic changes,” said one voter. “Even my parents pointed out that during Obama’s two presidencies [terms], it was kinda really tough to stay afloat.”
“We know these are things that could’ve been prevented,” another voter told Ventura regarding the economy. “We know that these are because of policies that were put in by people that do not have our best interest in mind and everybody out here, everybody’s rent has gone up.”
Latino voters in south Texas are moving towards the GOP and voting Republican , majority for their first time ever. Latino voters tell me the Democrat party has abandoned the working class here and the party has moved too far-left on family and social values. @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/stnqm8pINY
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) November 2, 2022
Voters said they trust Republicans to tackle the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border and the deteriorating infrastructure in their communities. One woman supporting Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the Democratic leadership have contrubuted to issues with infrastructure and the economy. (RELATED: New Poll Shows Democrats Losing Ground With Latino Voters)
“We could use better infrastructure, better businesses, industry, we need that to get to the next step,” she said. “We won’t be able to do it with the leadership we have now, which is Democratic. So the fact that Republicans have been pouring so much attention, so much money in this area is long overdue.”
One voter criticized the left’s support for teaching about sexual education and gender ideology in schools.
“The progressive and woke ideology that teaching children about sexuality in public schools is okay, that doesn’t fly with people down here,” he said. “People here are very conservative and traditional when it comes to sexual education or with sexuality within those age groups.”
Manuel Ramos, a Mexican immigrant, cited inflation and transgender procedures and surgeries for children as his reason for voting Republican. He said religion plays a key role in his life, which he believes the Democratic Party has not reflected.
Just spoke with Manuel Ramos, immigrant from Mexico living in south Texas who tells me he’s voting Republican due to inflation and the Democrats moving too far-left on cultural on social issues like supporting sex transition for children. Stay tuned for the story @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/fpi7KQapOI
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) November 1, 2022
Republican Texas Rep. Mayra Flores told Ventura that the people of South Texas are about “God, family and hard work” and thus voted Republican. She vowed to fight inflation if the Republicans take back the House of Representatives after the midterm elections.
One on one with Republican Congresswoman @MayraFlores2022 ahead of election day as we discuss top issues for voters, Latinos shifting towards the Republican party & more! @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/s8BWlqjceB
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) November 3, 2022
“Once we take back the House, we have a huge responsibility,” she said. “The people have entrusted in us to be in that position, what are we gonna do with that? So, it’s so important that we work very hard for the American people, that we put the American people first, not the political party. It’s so important to bring down the cost of living because people want the lives that they had two years ago.”
Flores won a special election in Texas’ historically Democratic 34th district in June. Her victory indicated the rightward shift of Hispanic and Latino voters as their approval ratings of President Joe Biden and the party remain historically low.
Hispanics, along with most voters, have consistently cited the economy and inflation as their top concerns for the midterm election.