It may seem like a distant memory, but the new year rang in with an image that echoed across both English and Spanish-speaking worlds: that of American armed forces executing the stunning capture of Venezuelan despot Nicolás Maduro. From New York to Orlando, people took to the streets in support of President Trump’s actions. Celebrations of Venezuelans were met at times by counter-protestors, many of them white, denouncing the U.S. military operation and voicing tacit support for the Maduro regime.
Within the key Hispanic voter electorate, surveys showed overwhelming approval of the actions. This should command the attention of Republicans. It was these very voters who were so pivotal in 2024 and will determine control of Congress for the latter half of President Trump’s second term. And we can do more as a party to win them over.
It’s an established fact that the swing among non-white, working voters – especially Hispanics – was instrumental in Trump’s reelection and the GOP’s narrow congressional majorities. My home state of Pennsylvania was the only state to flip two congressional districts from Democrat to Republican without redistricting, both with significant Hispanic populations, and the sole swing state to flip a U.S. Senate seat. My team conducted the only outreach to these voters across the state. We witnessed the impact on the ground firsthand.
Since then, surveys and anecdotal evidence indicate a significant retraction among Latino voters – followed by at least some evidence of a “dramatically changed” positive swing since January. Republicans who want to notch more wins need to center these voters in our policies and messaging.
The White House agrees: In a February strategy session featuring high-level GOP insiders, Hispanic voters are among just three voter groups who are truly persuadable, according to President Trump’s pollster Tony Fabrizio.
Broad gains are possible. They will happen when we generate wins for voters and then point to them. That means showing up on Spanish-language media to advance our work, especially on the economy, and prioritizing humane border enforcement with new leadership at the DHS. Hispanic voters also tend to be younger, further emphasizing the need for progress on the nation’s affordability crisis.
We can make even greater strides when we identify specific groups that need help. Among the key voters are Puerto Ricans, the second-largest group within America’s Hispanic community, representing over 6 million people nationally. Unlike other newcomers, a Puerto Rican adult can vote in U.S. elections immediately after establishing residency on the mainland. They are concentrated in critical swing districts in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Florida – more than enough to determine the victors in 2026, when majorities will be decided by thousands of votes.
Decisive action on one glaring issue can help Republicans make gains. Puerto Rico’s power grid is in a state of total disarray, with its utility company mired in a state of bankruptcy for close to a decade. This longstanding crisis has made rolling blackouts and grid failures a standard occurrence for residents and businesses alike – and fostered considerable anger toward a dysfunctional board that is shelling out billions of dollars to consultants without results.
The Trump administration is uniquely situated to help, starting with holding the corrupt board accountable. According to polling last fall, half of U.S. Puerto Rican voters would be more likely to vote Republican if the party is seen as helping to fix the island’s electrical grid. This group “has traditionally leaned Democratic but is increasingly open to alternatives.” Presenting an alternative to these voters will help move key races toward the GOP.
There is likely no more salient issue with such a large group of swing voters than fixing the Puerto Rican power grid; action on this front, followed by consistent messaging on the topic, will win more voters over and help us keep our majorities. It may be all the difference between obstinance and impeachments or continued control. All we need to do is act.
From the beaches of Miami to the streets of Pennsylvania’s small mountain communities, there are opportunities for Republicans who want to win. The actions of the White House and Congress offer a real pathway forward. Nothing is more important to our midterm prospects than delivering for these voters.
