Latino voter discontent in South Texas could help Democrats in November midterms

Democrats are seeking to regain ground in South Texas, a historically Democratic region where Donald Trump won in 2024. About 8,000 people gathered in Weslaco on Sunday to support three Democratic candidates: James Talarico for the Senate, Gina Hinojosa for governor, and Bobby Pulido for the House of Representatives.

The Democratic trio is focusing on economic struggles rather than cultural wars. Hinojosa said her agenda is to return to essentials and offer Texans opportunities and prosperity instead of attacking different groups.

“My agenda is to return to the essentials. Not these culture wars, not attacking different groups of Texans. It is to drive them forward and offer them opportunities and prosperity.”

Trump won all four Valley counties in 2024 with up to 56 percent support, marking the first Republican presidential victory in the area in over three decades. His margins ranged from 3 to 16 points across Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties.

Many Latino voters now say they are worse off despite backing Trump. Families in the region earn one-third less than the national average, and the poverty rate is double the national average. Diego Ayala, a 26-year-old landscaping business owner, said people still struggle with health, fuel, and food costs.

Immigration raids and deportations have added to the unease. Jessica Cantu, a 38-year-old mother of six who voted for Trump in 2024, said her brother was deported two years later.

Early voting in Texas is proceeding at a strong pace, with more than 5.1 million people having cast ballots ahead of the November 3 elections. Voters will choose all 435 House members, one-third of the Senate, and 36 governors.