Housing affordability concerns mobilize Latino voters across the United States

By Cristy Villalobos-Hauser, housing policy advisor

Amidst a rising cost of living worsened by higher housing costs and even higher health care costs, Latino voters are putting affordability front and center. UnidosUS’s poll shows rising rents and home prices are shaping votes, and Hispanic voters are seeking candidates who have real solutions. 

UnidosUS’s Bipartisan Poll of Hispanic Voters: The Road to 2026, the largest bipartisan poll of eligible Latino voters with 3,000 respondents, highlights the deep economic concerns driving the nation’s 2026 political landscape — cost of living, jobs and housing. 

Latino voters, America’s second-largest electorate, remain highly concerned about pocketbook issues: 53% of Latinos rank the cost of living and inflation as their top concern. Rounding out the top three concerns for Latino voters are jobs (36%) and housing (32%). 

Housing affordability continues to be one of the largest challenges for Latino families, because the path to homeownership has been increasingly out of reach for working families. According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, homebuying has fallen to its lowest level since the mid-1990s. UnidosUS is proud to endorse bipartisan federal solutions that make housing affordable for Latino families. 

Housing concerns are driven by a lack of affordable homes and apartments, the rising cost of home maintenance, and a dwindling path to homeownership. The concern among voters is valid — the median price of a single-family home continues to rise, reaching $426,800 nationwide. With rising rents, half of all renter households are cost-burdened in the current environment. 

The Road to 2026 poll results reveal the top housing issues that Latino voters want elected officials to address: 

• 47% say there is a lack of affordable rental housing. 

• 47% are concerned about the cost of electricity, utilities, taxes, home insurance, home maintenance or needed home repairs. 

• 42% say there is a lack of affordable housing for sale. 

• 40% cannot afford the rising cost of rent. 

• 33% cite homelessness as a concern in their city or community. 

In response to housing affordability concerns, Latinos largely voted in support of pro-housing candidates and ballot measures. As housing affordability barriers deepen, Latino voters are making one thing clear — it’s time to build more affordable homes. 

In New York City, where 15% of voters are Latino, voters overwhelmingly backed three ballot measures to modernize development rules and expand housing supply. The results show growing public support for tackling the city’s housing shortage head-on. Pro-housing momentum spread nationwide, including in Virginia, where 73% of voters say housing is the top issue. Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger won on a bold housing plan. Latino voters delivered a decisive message, with 67% voting in support of Spanberger statewide.  

The Democratic victory was strongest in New Jersey, where counties with large Latino populations flipped left after trending right in 2024 — a trend seen nationwide in November’s election. Facing the nation’s second-largest housing shortage, Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill campaigned on expanding “missing middle” housing, repurposing underused buildings, and strengthening first-time and first-generation homebuyer aid with combined assistance of up to $22,000. 

Latino voters are increasingly voting with housing and economic issues top of mind. Polling indicates that half of Latino voters trust Democrats to lead on housing costs, while only a quarter see Republicans delivering on the issue. According to the poll, if the 2026 election were held today, Democrats would lead among Latino voters 52% to 28%; however, both parties trail their 2024 support — signaling voter discontent.  

UnidosUS’s poll results are a message to both parties: Latino voters will hold them accountable if they fall short on addressing the cost of living and housing affordability.