The current state of affairs: the Trump-Led Republican Party Continues to Reject Latinos, But Expects Them to Vote Red. Makes sense, right?
Within the last week, Republican Texas legislators released designs for new congressional maps in the Lone Star State. This move followed Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Special Session Agenda announcement. Sandwiched neatly between actually pressing items such as flood warning systems and natural disaster preparation, Governor Abbott sneakily hid the biggest agenda item: “REDISTRICTING: Legislation that provides a revised congressional redistricting plan in light of constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.”
(Quick digression: this special session is supposed to help Texas grieve and rebuild following such tragic flooding. But Abbott and Texas’ Republicans have another goal in mind: building back red.)
The new redistricting plans couldn’t be more clear: change the map and make GOP gains. After all, Texas Republicans hope to gain five U.S. House seats with the new map. So how does this affect Latinos? Well, Latinos appear to be the target, as four of the five drawn up districts are majority Hispanic. The new map–focused on Austin, Dallas, and Houston–brings “more white, Hispanic and Black majority districts,” according to The Texas Tribune’s analysis.
But this GOP success hinges on one big point: Texas Latinos voting for Republicans.
Hispanics make up the biggest share of Texas’ population. This past election cycle, Republicans were right. Latinos in California came out in favor of the GOP more than ever. Trump won a whopping 43% of the Latino vote. The state of Texas saw similar results among Hispanic voters.
But what Republicans don’t realize? The Trump Administration has alienated almost all those Latino voters who made his second-term possible. The momentum is over. The idea of Latinos voting Republican in Texas now? It’s a gamble. And it’s just going to get worse.
Let’s Rewind: What’s Going on in Texas?
August 1st, the proposed bill on congressional redistricting passed. In response, dozens of Texas Democratic legislators made plans to leave the state. Why? They hoped to stall (and prevent) voting on redistricting. Simultaneously, their absence has prevented voting on the other agenda items. Is this political theater? Yes. Does it hurt average Texans way more than it does the Texas GOP? Yes. Is it unconstitutional? Somewhat. Will it work? Not really. It just delays the vote.
But, let’s hear from one of the Texas Democrats herself.
In an op-ed for USA Today, Texas Representative Gina Hinojosa called out Republicans’ plans for Texas as what it is–opportunistic and hypocritical. “We must be clear about what’s really happening in Texas now,” she wrote, “Republicans are using Latino voters as political pawns.”
(Yes, but so is she–and all the other Democratic lawmakers–who fled the state. They’re using all their constituents as political pawns by leaving the state when it’s time to get to work.)
“[The new maps] are not a reflection of the will of the people,” Hinojosa said, “nor based on any new census data.” Hinojosa went as far to argue that the new maps actually rid Latinos of political power, citing an analysis from the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.
This move by Democratic lawmakers such as Hinojosa might generate more news coverage, but it won’t stop Abbott’s efforts to redistrict Texas. As Democrats avoid the office, Governor Abbott couldn’t have been more clear in his response to Democratic House members. “Real Texans do not run from a fight,” he wrote, “…In other words, Democrats hatched a deliberate plan not to show up for work, for the specific purpose of abdicating the duties of their office and thwarting the chamber’s business.”
Two days ago, August 4th, Abbott chose another bold move. He filed an emergency petition with the Texas Supreme Court aimed at removing Democratic Representative Gene Wu, one of the lawmakers who fled the state. “Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans, and there must be consequences,” he said.
What’s clear now? Two things can be true at once: Democratic lawmakers are abandoning their post for the supposed greater good of the state. However, in doing so, they’re hurting not just the Republican party, but also their constituents. Secondly, Republicans are shamefully capitalizing on this unique moment to gain more GOP ground.
It’s a tale as old as time–neither party is actually doing anything to help.
So, what’s the current update? No quorum. Aka, no redistricting. Democratic lawmakers are making a point. The standstill continues, to the dismay of Texas Republicans. And honestly, Democratic lawmakers continue to cower from the fight–it’s not noble. It’s just as self-serving as their Republican counterparts. If Democratic lawmakers care about their constituents, they need to get back in the ring, not sit on the sidelines.
But the issue isn’t really about redistricting or Abbott or Democratic lawmakers–it’s about the presumptuous GOP thinking that they can run Latinos out of the country and still get them to vote red.
Boiling Down the Real Issue
Regardless of whether the redistricting plan goes through, let’s be clear about one thing: Trump, Abbott, and the GOP don’t have Latino votes.
They can’t ride out dreamy plans of a better economy and higher standards of living when they’re too focused on immigration. Maybe it isn’t clear yet, but Latino voters aren’t happy with Republican leadership. Hell, even the Latinas for Trump co-founder Ileana Garcia is done with Trump. She called his immigration arrests “unacceptable and inhumane.”
In a post on X, she furthered that statement, calling out the Trump presidency for its hypocrisy: “This is not what we voted for.”
Garcia, and many other former Latinos for Trump, have called it as it is. Unfair. Arbitrary. Self-serving. Other Florida Republicans are getting fed up, and rightfully so. The painful irony? Trump only won the 2024 election because of Latinos. Campaigning on lofty promises of economic salvation amid desperation, Trump secured these votes.
And now, what’s the cornerstone of his administration? Well, it’s not the economy…that’s for sure. It’s a mass deportation scheme, not aimed at deporting criminals. It’s a mass deportation scheme aimed at ridding America of what makes it strong: diversity. Look, Republicans and Democrats alike can get behind deporting criminals, but basing an entire political agenda off deporting hardworking, honest immigrants who are trying to live out the American dream? It’s despicable.
And Latinos won’t stand for it.
Trump’s Short-Lived Success with Latino Voters
Despite what Trump may think, it looks like the Latino Right-wave is coming to a halt. The numbers don’t lie. According to a poll from Kaplan Strategies regarding Florida’s 27th Congressional District, in a district Trump won by DOUBLE DIGITS in 2024, the GOP candidates is trailing behind.
What’s more? According to a July 2025 Equis poll, 63% of U.S. Latinos disapprove of Trump’s job so far. More than that, 64% of Latinos labeled the economy as “somewhat or very poor.” Great news if you expect to win Latino districts, right?
I mean honestly, did Trump and the GOP honestly think they could carry out such a dehumanizing, cruel deportation campaign and keep Latino support? It’s stupidity, plain and simple.
MSNBC Columnist Julio Ricardo Varela nailed it– in an opinion piece titled “Trump’s failing Latino voters – and Democrats are missing a huge opportunity,” he discussed all the empty promises from Republicans. Trump’s stirring “fear” in Latino communities, not fixing the economy. As Ricardo Varela wrote, neither party has Latinos in their pockets. Because neither party is doing anything for Latinos!
So, Where Does This Leave Texas and the GOP?
Ultimately, Democrats need to get off their high horses and get back on the ground. Running away from a redistricting vote is childish, and it’s not helping Texans. Yes, the redistricting might happen, but what Texas Democrats need to do in response is actually help their constituents. Ask yourselves, why did Latinos abandon the Democratic party? Perhaps it’s because the Democratic response is to run away rather than get on the ground and help. Rather than going for political theatrics, come up with inventive solutions that help Texas’ Hispanic population succeed.
And to the GOP, get ready to see your gamble backfire. Latinos work hard. America runs because of our Hispanic population. You can’t hate immigrants and expect them to vote for you because you’re the party of “opportunity.” What happened to all the economic promises you made to your Latino supporters? What happened to helping small business owners and lowering grocery prices? What happened to an immigration campaign centered around protecting our country and getting rid of criminals? Because right now, all Americans see is despicable, arbitrary attacks against Hispanics.
Neither Democrats nor Republicans have the Latino vote right now. As Republicans choose division and hate, Democrats choose disappearing. If you want the Latino vote, you have to show up, listen, and deliver.
