Arizona’s Hispanic Voters: The Pivotal Force Shaping the Presidential Election

(The Center Square) – The Arizona Republican Party, in collaboration with Latino Americans for Trump, organized a rally on Friday aimed at engaging Hispanic voters in support of former President Donald Trump. The event featured notable attendees, including Rep. Steve Montenegro.

Jaime Florez, the Trump Campaign Hispanic communications director, criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, stating, “Her failed policies have crushed Hispanic communities across Arizona.” Florez cited issues such as inflation, rising crime rates, and a worsening border crisis, arguing that these challenges disproportionately affect Hispanic Americans. He expressed confidence that under President Trump, the country would revert to policies fostering economic growth, safety, and prosperity for all.

Attendees, including local business owners, voiced their frustrations with the current administration. Terry Mendoza, a business owner, emphasized the struggles faced in the past four years, attributing them to the Biden-Harris policies. “This country is run by small business owners like me,” he remarked, stressing his eagerness for the election’s conclusion to return to what he called “being an American.”

Montenegro highlighted that Hispanic poverty rates are currently below pre-pandemic levels. “Inflation is killing us,” he asserted, reinforcing the demand for Trump’s leadership.

Key concerns raised by the Hispanic community at the event included poverty, inflation, and border security. AGOP Chairwoman Gina Swodoba pointed out that Hispanic voters constitute a crucial demographic for determining electoral outcomes. “This is the voting bloc that will determine the fate of the presidential election,” she stated.

Despite Republican optimism, a poll by Noble Predictive Insights showed a slim lead for Harris among Hispanic voters. However, nearly 40% of those polled expressed strong disapproval of President Biden’s tenure. When assessing which candidate was better suited to handle immigration, 41% favored Trump over Harris’s 38%. Conversely, 43% of respondents indicated a preference for Harris regarding inflation, and she outperformed Trump by 10% on affordable housing issues.

In the Arizona U.S. Senate race, Democratic candidate Ruben Gallego received substantial support from Hispanic voters, with 51% planning to vote for him, while 45% felt he was better equipped to tackle immigration compared to Republican candidate Kari Lake’s 36%. Gallego also excelled in addressing concerns around inflation and affordable housing.

As Hispanic voters show a greater alignment with Gallego in the Senate race, the presidential contest remains highly competitive among all voters in Arizona. Montenegro concluded, “President Trump has done more for the Hispanic community, and they’ve seen it. What matters to them is results. We will deliver Arizona for President Trump.”