Democrats Notice Alarming Trends for Harris Among Latino Men in Pennsylvania
Harris' appeal among Latino voters in Pennsylvania, where there are approximately 580,000 registered Latino voters, has the potential to influence the outcome of the entire election.
TroibNews 
**ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania** — Latino political and business leaders in Pennsylvania have privately expressed concerns to the Kamala Harris campaign that it is not sufficiently engaging Latino voters and elected officials in the state, which could jeopardize her ability to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
At a recent Philadelphia reception, several Latino leaders approached members of Harris' team to convey this message, as revealed by two individuals who were present at the event and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Interviews with a dozen Latino Democratic elected officials and strategists in Pennsylvania highlight ongoing concerns that Latino men, in particular, remain uninspired by Harris.
This trend among Latino men is evident in public polling, indicating that support for Democrats among Latino voters has reached its lowest levels in decades. This phenomenon is seen in states like Nevada and Arizona, which are highly diverse, where Harris faces challenges due to waning Latino support. In Pennsylvania, which has about 580,000 registered Latino voters, her performance among this demographic could significantly influence the election outcome.
“Yes, I am concerned, I am worried. … The Harris campaign needs to continue and do better at getting to the community, getting them out to vote,” said Victor Martinez, who owns a Spanish-language radio station and has appeared in a pro-Harris TV advertisement. “Trump has created a macho persona, a personality that is very attractive to the Latino man, and I can say this because I am a Latino man.”
One unnamed Pennsylvania elected official criticized the campaign for not intensifying its efforts with the Latino community as Election Day approaches. Another leader who also attended the recent Hispanic reception expressed concern about “getting Latino men over whatever issues they have about electing a woman as president — that’s on a lot of people’s minds.”
Since Harris has taken over as the leader of the Democratic ticket from President Joe Biden, she has made significant strides with voters of color, revitalizing the party's competitiveness in diverse Sun Belt states. Although she is anticipated to capture the majority of Latino voters in Pennsylvania and nationwide, her vulnerability among Latino men—and Trump’s appeal to this group—raises alarms for local campaign operatives, as even slight losses could shift the state’s electoral balance.
If there is any advantage for Democrats, several operatives noted, it is that Republicans have not aggressively pursued engagement with Latino voters.
“If they were to invest, I think they could really take the Democratic Party for a run,” Martinez stated. He pointed out that Harris, when she was Biden’s running mate, called into his radio show, unlike their GOP counterparts.
This disparity shows up in campaign spending targeted at Latino voters within the state. The Harris campaign and her Democratic affiliates have allocated nearly $2 million for Spanish-language TV advertisements, while the Trump campaign has spent only $175,000. Additionally, the Harris campaign has assembled a team of 30 staffers focused on Latino outreach, whereas Trump’s campaign has just one.
Acknowledging a lack of sufficient outreach, Pennsylvania-based Republican strategist Jimmy Zumba said he had “hope[d] there would be more ads on radio and TV.”
“If Republicans were to spend more money or perhaps hire a couple more outreach people for the Latino community,” Zumba argued, “then I think it’d be more effective to gain more people.” However, he did commend a Latino-focused GOP staffer who he described as “great.”
Jaime Florez, the Hispanic communications director for the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee, mentioned that the campaign opted against establishing specific outreach offices for any particular community, as they believe “the main issues are common for all communities — inflation, high prices, affects Latinos, Asians, African-Americans, everyone, so there’s no reason to do something specific.”
“We do it in English and Spanish, but the message is the same for all the communities,” Florez added.
The Harris campaign, in response to the issues raised by some Pennsylvania Democrats, has emphasized its extensive outreach efforts through events, organizing, and advertising. They view the last weeks of the campaign as crucial for appealing to these voters, who often disengage from politics and make their voting decisions late.
In some national polls, Harris has seen troublingly low support among Latino voters. Biden won Latino voters nationally by a 26-point margin in 2020, but a New York Times/Siena College poll indicated that Harris has only a 19-point lead over Trump with this demographic.
Conversely, other polls suggest that Harris is maintaining parity with Latino voters. One recent poll specific to Pennsylvania showed Harris winning 64 percent of Latino voters compared to Trump’s 31 percent, marking an improvement over other national surveys. A CBS News poll also indicated that Harris matched Biden’s 2020 share of the Latino vote nationally.
“We don’t hold on to Nevada or Arizona or Pennsylvania, much less have a chance in Georgia, unless we turn out the Latino community for Harris,” one Democratic pollster indicated, who requested anonymity to speak candidly. However, the challenge in energizing Latino men stemmed from the campaign’s focus on abortion issues, which resonate more with women and alienate some Hispanic men who may feel their concerns are overlooked.
Pennsylvania Democratic state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz voiced similar concerns, stating that the issue of abortion can make it difficult to reach “faith-driven” Latino voters. She added that for many older, more traditional Latino men, “it’s hard for some of these men — older, old school, traditional — to see a woman in power.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s rhetoric about immigration does not appear to have deterred Latino voters. According to the New York Times/Siena College poll, two-thirds of those surveyed believe that Trump is not referring to individuals like them in his remarks.
Pennsylvania Democratic state Rep. Danilo Burgos noted that Latino men have increasingly begun to mirror the voting patterns of other male voters. “You have men that have been here for a while that have become assimilated. They're disconnecting with what's going on back home,” he explained.
Heading into November, many Latino voters cite the economy as their top priority, an area where Harris struggles. Her campaign has focused its Spanish-language messaging on economic issues and healthcare costs, yet for many in the Latino community, who are grappling with the rising cost of living, these ads may fail to make an impact.
“I think that a lot of people in the Latino community, they're feeling that we're living check to check, and they’re struggling. When we see how much support goes elsewhere, you hear people say, ‘What about us?’” commented one Latino leader in Pennsylvania, who requested anonymity.
Burgos emphasized that Latino voters “are not just committed to one party or the other,” and stressed the need for meaningful engagement with them.
The Harris campaign remains committed to outreach in Pennsylvania, organizing Latino-focused events, which they highlighted in a recent communication. These include appearances by Harris, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, and various surrogates. In a series of roundtables, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros will engage with Latino men over the coming weekend.
During a recent visit, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz dropped by a Puerto Rican family-owned restaurant in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he engaged with local business and community leaders shortly after participating in the vice presidential debate.
Walz was welcomed by Reading Mayor Eddie Moran, who acknowledged that Latinos had been “feeling somewhat disengaged” but expressed optimism that “you’re going to start seeing the numbers change.”
In his remarks, Walz hinted that the election outcome could hinge on this demographic, stating: “This thing is going to come down to our ‘Blue Wall’ states, come down to Pennsylvania, might come right through this restaurant.”
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
At a recent Philadelphia reception, several Latino leaders approached members of Harris' team to convey this message, as revealed by two individuals who were present at the event and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Interviews with a dozen Latino Democratic elected officials and strategists in Pennsylvania highlight ongoing concerns that Latino men, in particular, remain uninspired by Harris.
This trend among Latino men is evident in public polling, indicating that support for Democrats among Latino voters has reached its lowest levels in decades. This phenomenon is seen in states like Nevada and Arizona, which are highly diverse, where Harris faces challenges due to waning Latino support. In Pennsylvania, which has about 580,000 registered Latino voters, her performance among this demographic could significantly influence the election outcome.
“Yes, I am concerned, I am worried. … The Harris campaign needs to continue and do better at getting to the community, getting them out to vote,” said Victor Martinez, who owns a Spanish-language radio station and has appeared in a pro-Harris TV advertisement. “Trump has created a macho persona, a personality that is very attractive to the Latino man, and I can say this because I am a Latino man.”
One unnamed Pennsylvania elected official criticized the campaign for not intensifying its efforts with the Latino community as Election Day approaches. Another leader who also attended the recent Hispanic reception expressed concern about “getting Latino men over whatever issues they have about electing a woman as president — that’s on a lot of people’s minds.”
Since Harris has taken over as the leader of the Democratic ticket from President Joe Biden, she has made significant strides with voters of color, revitalizing the party's competitiveness in diverse Sun Belt states. Although she is anticipated to capture the majority of Latino voters in Pennsylvania and nationwide, her vulnerability among Latino men—and Trump’s appeal to this group—raises alarms for local campaign operatives, as even slight losses could shift the state’s electoral balance.
If there is any advantage for Democrats, several operatives noted, it is that Republicans have not aggressively pursued engagement with Latino voters.
“If they were to invest, I think they could really take the Democratic Party for a run,” Martinez stated. He pointed out that Harris, when she was Biden’s running mate, called into his radio show, unlike their GOP counterparts.
This disparity shows up in campaign spending targeted at Latino voters within the state. The Harris campaign and her Democratic affiliates have allocated nearly $2 million for Spanish-language TV advertisements, while the Trump campaign has spent only $175,000. Additionally, the Harris campaign has assembled a team of 30 staffers focused on Latino outreach, whereas Trump’s campaign has just one.
Acknowledging a lack of sufficient outreach, Pennsylvania-based Republican strategist Jimmy Zumba said he had “hope[d] there would be more ads on radio and TV.”
“If Republicans were to spend more money or perhaps hire a couple more outreach people for the Latino community,” Zumba argued, “then I think it’d be more effective to gain more people.” However, he did commend a Latino-focused GOP staffer who he described as “great.”
Jaime Florez, the Hispanic communications director for the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee, mentioned that the campaign opted against establishing specific outreach offices for any particular community, as they believe “the main issues are common for all communities — inflation, high prices, affects Latinos, Asians, African-Americans, everyone, so there’s no reason to do something specific.”
“We do it in English and Spanish, but the message is the same for all the communities,” Florez added.
The Harris campaign, in response to the issues raised by some Pennsylvania Democrats, has emphasized its extensive outreach efforts through events, organizing, and advertising. They view the last weeks of the campaign as crucial for appealing to these voters, who often disengage from politics and make their voting decisions late.
In some national polls, Harris has seen troublingly low support among Latino voters. Biden won Latino voters nationally by a 26-point margin in 2020, but a New York Times/Siena College poll indicated that Harris has only a 19-point lead over Trump with this demographic.
Conversely, other polls suggest that Harris is maintaining parity with Latino voters. One recent poll specific to Pennsylvania showed Harris winning 64 percent of Latino voters compared to Trump’s 31 percent, marking an improvement over other national surveys. A CBS News poll also indicated that Harris matched Biden’s 2020 share of the Latino vote nationally.
“We don’t hold on to Nevada or Arizona or Pennsylvania, much less have a chance in Georgia, unless we turn out the Latino community for Harris,” one Democratic pollster indicated, who requested anonymity to speak candidly. However, the challenge in energizing Latino men stemmed from the campaign’s focus on abortion issues, which resonate more with women and alienate some Hispanic men who may feel their concerns are overlooked.
Pennsylvania Democratic state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz voiced similar concerns, stating that the issue of abortion can make it difficult to reach “faith-driven” Latino voters. She added that for many older, more traditional Latino men, “it’s hard for some of these men — older, old school, traditional — to see a woman in power.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s rhetoric about immigration does not appear to have deterred Latino voters. According to the New York Times/Siena College poll, two-thirds of those surveyed believe that Trump is not referring to individuals like them in his remarks.
Pennsylvania Democratic state Rep. Danilo Burgos noted that Latino men have increasingly begun to mirror the voting patterns of other male voters. “You have men that have been here for a while that have become assimilated. They're disconnecting with what's going on back home,” he explained.
Heading into November, many Latino voters cite the economy as their top priority, an area where Harris struggles. Her campaign has focused its Spanish-language messaging on economic issues and healthcare costs, yet for many in the Latino community, who are grappling with the rising cost of living, these ads may fail to make an impact.
“I think that a lot of people in the Latino community, they're feeling that we're living check to check, and they’re struggling. When we see how much support goes elsewhere, you hear people say, ‘What about us?’” commented one Latino leader in Pennsylvania, who requested anonymity.
Burgos emphasized that Latino voters “are not just committed to one party or the other,” and stressed the need for meaningful engagement with them.
The Harris campaign remains committed to outreach in Pennsylvania, organizing Latino-focused events, which they highlighted in a recent communication. These include appearances by Harris, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, and various surrogates. In a series of roundtables, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros will engage with Latino men over the coming weekend.
During a recent visit, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz dropped by a Puerto Rican family-owned restaurant in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he engaged with local business and community leaders shortly after participating in the vice presidential debate.
Walz was welcomed by Reading Mayor Eddie Moran, who acknowledged that Latinos had been “feeling somewhat disengaged” but expressed optimism that “you’re going to start seeing the numbers change.”
In his remarks, Walz hinted that the election outcome could hinge on this demographic, stating: “This thing is going to come down to our ‘Blue Wall’ states, come down to Pennsylvania, might come right through this restaurant.”
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
