CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten reported that President Donald Trump’s approval rating among Hispanic men has declined since the 2024 election. According to polling data presented by Enten, 51 percent of Hispanic men now disapprove of the president’s performance, representing a 51-point shift from previous levels of support.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Hispanic men supported Trump over former Vice President Kamala Harris, a demographic shift that contributed to Republican victories in Arizona and Nevada. However, recent polling indicates that Democrats have gained a 20-point lead with this group, marking a 28-point swing against the Republican Party since 2024.
Enten attributed the change in sentiment primarily to economic concerns. While many Hispanic men cited the cost of living under the Biden administration as a reason for supporting Trump in 2024, the analyst noted that Trump’s net approval rating on the economy is now 49 points "underwater." The report linked this dissatisfaction to price spikes following a "Liberation Day" announcement of reciprocal tariffs—which were later struck down by the Supreme Court—and rising gas prices exceeding $4 a gallon due to a conflict in Iran that affected oil supplies.
In response to these polling trends, Democratic candidates are increasing outreach to Hispanic communities ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Texas Senate nominee James Talarico has utilized Spanish-language advertising during the World Cup, while the party seeks to win the governorship in Nevada and a congressional seat in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. Republicans, meanwhile, have expressed internal concerns regarding the impact of aggressive deportation policies on voter sentiment, while hoping that Democratic primary winners with socialist platforms might alienate Cuban-American voters in Florida.
For the average household, the source indicates that the primary drivers of this political shift are tangible changes in daily expenses. With gas prices rising above $4 a gallon and costs for groceries and other goods increasing following tariff announcements, voters are seeing higher bills in their weekly budgets. A 60-point move away from the president on economic issues suggests that the cost-of-living concerns that once benefited his campaign are now being directed toward his administration’s policies.
The long-term effects could influence how both parties approach policy on trade, energy, and immigration. The source reports that some Republicans are already warning against deportation policies for non-violent individuals to avoid further alienating these voters. As the 2026 midterms approach, the effectiveness of Spanish-language outreach and the candidates selected in party primaries will serve as the next indicators of whether Democrats can capitalize on this demographic shift or if Republicans can regain their 2024 standing. Throughout 2026, the specific outcomes in the Texas Senate race and the Nevada gubernatorial race will provide the final measure of this demographic's impact.