After comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made a joke about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally in New York, some Latino voters reportedly reconsidered their support for Trump—but it was already too late, says Camille Rivera, founder of the Puerto Rican PAC La Brega y Fuerza. Her comments follow disappointing Election Day results for Vice President Kamala Harris among Latino voters. Although some exit polls indicate that Harris secured a portion of the Latino vote, her performance appears weaker than President Joe Biden's in 2020. Speaking with Newsweek, Rivera emphasized that a delayed response from Democratic organizations may have hindered the outreach efforts needed to secure Latino support.
"For two or three years, we've urged Democratic groups to invest in our communities, but by the time they took action, many had already cast their votes," Rivera explained. "During those critical ten days, I received calls from people wanting to change their votes, but it was too late."
In contrast, former President Trump appears to be improving on his 2020 Latino support levels, despite Democratic attempts to win back these voters after Hinchcliffe’s controversial remarks. Rivera noted that the Democrats' intensified focus on Puerto Rican voters came too late to make a difference. "The Republican Party has been investing in Latino communities for years, and these results are showing that impact," Rivera said. "Meanwhile, many of us were out there canvassing and trying to fund outreach to Puerto Rican voters but lacked support. Missing those opportunities with Latinos cost us dearly."
Rivera's comments align with exit polls showing shifts in Latino support on Election Day. One poll, reported by *The Hill's* Niall Stanage, shows a significant change among Latino men from 2020 to 2024. By 2024, 53% of Latino men backed Trump, while 45% supported Harris. In 2020, Biden led among Latino men with 59% support, compared to Trump’s 36%.
While Rivera remains hopeful for Harris, she recognizes that early returns are challenging, with Trump leading in key battleground states. The recent Latino outreach, particularly to Puerto Rican voters, underscored both the progress and shortcomings in the Democrats' approach. "This shouldn't have happened, and we need more than ten days to make meaningful change," she said.
Throughout the campaign, Trump has actively targeted young male voters, with Latinos as a core focus. In September, before the controversy at Madison Square Garden, he campaigned with Puerto Rican reggaeton stars Anuel AA and Nicky Jam—though Nicky Jam later withdrew his endorsement. This effort was part of Trump's broader strategy to attract young Latino men.
As the election entered its final weeks, the Latino vote became a central focus. Trump's comments about Puerto Rico and other Latino-focused remarks created a stir, prompting his campaign to initiate damage control, while Harris enlisted Latino superstars like Bad Bunny, Marc Anthony, and Jennifer Lopez for support. Traditionally, Latinos have leaned toward the Democratic Party, but changing patterns have opened the door for Republicans. With young Latinos emerging as an influential bloc, 17.5 million are expected to vote in 2024, and one in five will be voting in a presidential election for the first time. UnidosUS notes that since the 2016 election, 38% of the Latino electorate is new, underscoring this demographic's evolving influence.
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