Somos' Melissa Morales on the Texas Primaries: "Latino voters are not sitting this out"
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following the results of the primary elections in Texas, Melissa Morales, Founder and President of Somos Votantes, released the following statement:
"The turnout trends from Texas tells a story that every candidate on every ballot in November needs to hear: Latino voters are not sitting this out. In county after county with significant Latino populations, these primaries saw elevated engagement — and that energy is being driven by one thing above all else: the economy. And in races where the outcome was in question, Latino voters were the decision makers. That will be just as true in November.
Texas is home to 6.5 million Hispanic voters, and three out of five of the congressional seats Republicans redrew last year depend on holding Latino support. Yesterday was the first real test of whether that support holds. Our polling already told us what was coming — 84% of Latino voters nationally are motivated to vote in 2026, and 94% say the economy is driving that motivation. What we saw in Texas is that motivation made real."
Key findings from Somos Votantes' year-long polling of Latino voters:
- 84% of Latino voters are motivated to vote in 2026 — 61% extremely motivated — with 94% saying the economy is their primary driver
- 36% of Latino voters who voted for Trump in 2024 now say they are disappointed or regret their decision
- By a 21-point margin, Latino voters blame Republicans over Democrats for the rising cost of living
- 69% say Trump's tariff policies are making the cost of things they buy go up
###
About Somos Votantes
Somos Votantes is a Latino-led, Latino-focused organization that runs some of the largest independent Latino civic and voter engagement programs in the country. We envision a nation where hardworking Latinos have the opportunities and tools to fully participate in our democracy. Somos Votantes seeks to empower hardworking Latinos in shaping the future of our democracy, primarily through non-partisan civic engagement programs, by increasing our participation in elections and advocating for progressive policies.Visit https://www.somosvotantes.com/ for more information on this program and other projects, and follow the organization on Instagram, Facebook, and X.