Study: Social Issues Pushing Latinos Away From Democrat Party
Latinos who reject "Latinx" are statistically less inclined to support Democratic candidates.
The label "Latinx" has been in use since 2016 as a gender-neutral identifier for individuals of Latin American heritage in the U.S. However, new research by Georgetown's Amanda Sahar d'Urso and Harvard's Marcel F. Roman found that the term "Latinx" alienates Latino voters and may even encourage them to support Republican candidates.
According to Newsweek, the negative perception seems to be linked to its ties to progressive gender and LGBTQ+ issues, which don't resonate with more socially conservative members of the Latino community.
Experts believe this shift in support towards the Republican Party, especially in battleground states like Florida and Texas, is due to growing unease with the Democratic Party's progressive social agenda, which often incorporates terms like "Latinx."
Communications strategist Evelyn Pérez-Verdia noted that Latino voters are moving away from identity politics, leaning instead toward broader economic and social conservatism, and many are struggling to relate to the progressive messaging aimed at them.
Pérez-Verdia pointed out that the summer of 2020, marked by the rise of Black Lives Matter, was a turning point that started to alienate Latino voters, a trend now evident in polling data.
Research from d'Urso and Roman indicates that Latinos who reject "Latinx" are statistically less inclined to support Democratic candidates, reflecting the internal divide over identity politics in the Latino community.
One study revealed that the term "Latinx" is viewed unfavorably by many Latinos, with some even shifting their support to Donald Trump as a result.
In a survey experiment involving 1,000 Latino respondents, those exposed to a politician using "Latinx" rated them more poorly and were less likely to support them than those who heard "Latino."
Interestingly, while young Latinas are more open to the term "Latinx," young Latino men tend to reject it more, paralleling a broader trend of increasing conservatism among young men.
Professor Roman suggested this shift among young men, including Latinos, might reflect challenges in adapting to evolving social dynamics, such as women's advancements in education and the workforce.
An alternative term, "Latine," has emerged, but a Pew survey found it is largely unfamiliar to U.S. Hispanics, with 81% favoring "Hispanic" or "Latino."
As both parties recognize the importance of the Latino community in the 2024 election, recent trends are raising alarms for the Democrats. A UnidosUS poll shows Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump among Latino voters, but her support lags slightly behind Joe Biden's in 2020.
Young Latinos are anticipated to play a crucial role, with 17.5 million expected to vote.
The Latino electorate is also gaining influence, with 38% being new voters since 2016, according to UnidosUS.
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