James Talarico: the Democrats’ rising star who turned Texas blue

In the recent midterm elections, Latino voters made a significant shift to the left, leading Democrats to secure major victories in Texas and nationwide. This change marked a drastic pivot for a demographic that had previously leaned towards President Donald Trump just two years prior.

Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez, who won his New Mexico district by a substantial margin, attributed the party's success to the Latino community's activism and frustration with rising prices and government corruption. Hispanics played a crucial role in the Democratic repudiation of Trump and his Republican Party. In Texas, every county voted more Democratic than in the 2022 presidential race, where Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

The shift was more pronounced in heavily Hispanic counties, with Democrats capitalizing on issues that mattered most to these voters. Younger Hispanics demonstrated a swing of around 20 percentage points towards Democrats in Texas. This shift came after a period where Latinos had been split in their support for the Republican Party.

The Democrats' success with Latino voters extended to battleground House races and even reshaped the U.S. Senate landscape. Republican Sen. Ashley Moody narrowly retained her seat in Florida, but less than half of Hispanic voters backed her, while Trump had won the support of 55% of Hispanics in 2022.

In southwestern Kansas, three Hispanic-majority counties that voted overwhelmingly for Trump flipped to backing Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton. Turnout surged by 27% in these three counties. Democrats now have a record number of Hispanic members, with 14 newly elected Democrats, all of them in Republican districts.

Latinos are seeking representation that understands their issues, according to Rep. Linda Sanchez, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. They want a voice that carries their concerns to Washington. This newfound support from Latino voters puts pressure on Democrats to keep their campaign promises, as shown by the Allentown, Pennsylvania, district where Democrat Bob Brooks defeated Republican Rep. Ryan McKenzie.